St. John’s lands talented transfer Tounde Yessoufou in major coup

There are two basketball fan bases in celebration mode in New York City now.

The Knicks and, after late Wednesday night, St. John’s has joined them.

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Rick Pitino and the Johnnies scored a major recruiting coup, stealthily landing explosive Baylor wing Tounde Yessoufou, a source confirmed. It’s an addition that should make them a Final Four contender next season.

The 6-foot-5 Yessoufou was a standout as a freshman in the Big 12 and was expected to stay in the NBA Draft as a likely late first-round pick.

But he opted to return to school right before the midnight deadline and spend his sophomore year in Queens.

Tounde Yessoufou reacts to a call in the second half of Baylor’s win over Minnesota in a first-round game of the College Basketball Crown tournament at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 1, 2026 in Las Vegas. Getty Images

Yessoufou will create a blockbuster backcourt alongside returning guard Ian Jackson and EuroLeague point guard Quinn Ellis. As a freshman, he averaged 17.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.6 assists.

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A gifted athlete, Yessoufou should fit St. John’s uptempo style well. He is an explosive finisher who excels in transition and is well-rounded, which Pitino values in his guards.

At the NBA Draft Combine, Yessoufou had the eighth-highest no-step vertical and was fifth in the shuttle run. He was also 18th in the maximum vertical leap.

Tounde Yessoufou shoots the ball during the 2026 NBA Draft
Combine on May 11, 2026 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. NBAE via Getty Images

“Tounde Yessoufou is a Big East Player of the Year candidate. And he’s tailor-made for Rick Pitino,” CBS sports college basketball analyst Jon Rothstein said. “A big, strong physical wing with toughness, Yessoufou should fit in seamlessly alongside Euro import…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/st-john-lands-talented-transfer-045038518.html

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Publish date : 2026-05-28 04:50:00

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