Where UCLA Should Turn With Tounde Yessoufou off Market

UCLA basketball and Mick Cronin are entering a pivotal year. After entering the season last year as the 12th-ranked team in the country, the Bruins fell out of the top 25 and lost in the second round as a 7-seed.

During the offseason, while Cronin did bring in two freshmen from the 2026 high school class, he did most of his damage through the transfer portal.

Mar 20, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Mick Cronin reacts in the first half during a first round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Cronin was able to bring in quality players, including Texas Tech point guard Jaylen Petty, Butler point guard Azavier Robinson, Mississippi State small forward Sergej Macura, and Auburn power forward Filip Jovic. With those four players committed to coming to Westwood, the Bruins have the No. 8 transfer class for 2026, according to Rivals.

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Cronin was also recruiting players who entered the NBA Draft process, with the option to transfer to another college if they decided to return to college basketball. One of the top names the Bruins were looking to get was Tounde Yessoufou. He decided to come back to college but committed to play for Rick Pitino and St. John’s.

Mar 19, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Mick Cronin speaks with the media before a practice session ahead of the first round of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

With the Bruins losing out on one of the best players still in the transfer portal, let’s look at where they can go moving forward.

Mar 22, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Trent Perry (0) reacts against the UConn Huskies in the first half during a second round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Trent Perry was one of the…

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Publish date : 2026-05-29 11:00:00

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