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Tounde Yessoufou Withdraws From 2026 NBA Draft, Commits to St. John's

The decision gives Yessoufou a year to sharpen his shooting and playmaking and pursue a higher 2027 draft grade under Rick Pitino's program.

Overview

  • Yessoufou withdrew from the 2026 NBA Draft at the NCAA deadline on May 28, 2026, and his agency confirmed he has committed to play for Rick Pitino at St. John's.
  • As a freshman at Baylor he averaged 17.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game while earning All-Big 12 mention, but scouts flagged his three-point shooting and playmaking as areas needing improvement.
  • At the NBA Draft Combine on May 11 he posted strong athletic testing, including a top-10 no-step vertical and a top-5 shuttle time, which preserved his upside but did not secure a high first-round grade.
  • Yessoufou entered the transfer portal with a do-not-contact designation, drew reported early interest from programs such as UCLA, and is viewed by analysts as a major roster upgrade for St. John's.
  • St. John's plans to slot Yessoufou into a starting lineup with returning guards while still pursuing other portal targets, and his return next season could materially raise his 2027 draft stock if he improves outside shooting and playmaking.