Tounde Yessoufou arrived at Baylor as a potential one-and-done NBA prospect. He withdrew from the 2026 NBA Draft and committed to St. John's to play for Rick Pitino. The 6-foot-5, 215-pound forward averaged 17.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game in his most recent season. The move reflects concerns about how his draft stock was being evaluated, with expectations of a first-round selection but possibly a lower position than desired. Returning to college made him a highly sought-after transfer. St. John's has shown success under Pitino and has invested in the transfer portal, suggesting a strong opportunity for Yessoufou on a prominent stage.
"Baylor's Tounde Yessoufou -- a potential first-round pick -- has withdrawn from the 2026 NBA draft and committed to St. John's Red Storm men's basketball program to play for Rick Pitino, his agency THE TEAM tells ESPN.- Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 28, 2026"
"This is a two-pronged decision by Yessoufou, about program and about the league. He clearly didn't quite like what he was hearing about his draft stock enough to stay in the draft. It seems he would've been a first-round pick, but maybe not as high up as he would've hoped. Once he made the decision to return to the college ranks, he likely became one of the most desirable players in the country."
"St. John's has put together an impressive run under Pitino and has also proven it will devote resources to the transfer portal. There's likely a strong package coming Yessoufou's way, and he'll get to play on an exciting stage for the Red Storm and Pitino."
Read at Sportingnews
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