St John’s secure Yessoufou’s commitment ahead of NBA draft deadline
The five-star forward had been projected as a first-round pick but will join Rick Pitino’s Red Storm for the 2026-27 season.
Tounde Yessoufou has withdrawn from the 2026 NBA Draft and committed to St John’s University, a decision confirmed by his agency, THE TEAM, in a report to ESPN on May 28, 2026. The 6-foot-5, 215-pound forward becomes the latest high-profile recruit to choose the collegiate route over immediate professional entry, joining head coach Rick Pitino at St John’s for the 2026-27 season.
Yessoufou, originally a five-star recruit in the class of 2025, had tested the NBA Draft waters while simultaneously entering the transfer portal with a do-not-contact tag. His move to return to college basketball defies projections that viewed him as a potential first-round pick, with some mock drafts even suggesting he could be a lottery selection in 2027.
During the 2025-26 season at Baylor, Yessoufou averaged 17.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game, shooting 46.5 per cent from the field and 29.3 per cent from three-point range. His statistical output and physical profile had drawn significant attention from professional scouts, yet he ultimately decided to continue his development in the NCAA.
The commitment represents a significant victory for St John’s, which reportedly secured Yessoufou’s signature over other interested programmes. On3’s Joe Tipton reported that UCLA had gained early interest in the California native, while Kentucky had been in the mix during his high school recruitment. Pitino’s intervention effectively removed St John’s from the race for Iowa State transfer Milan Momcilovic, who also withdrew from the draft but remains uncommitted.
Yessoufou’s decision adds depth to St John’s roster as they look to build a top-10 team for the upcoming season. While Momcilovic continues to evaluate his options, the Red Storm’s acquisition of Yessoufou solidifies their standing in the transfer market and provides Pitino with a proven scorer and rebounder for the next campaign.
