If there is one basic truth about Rick Pitino on the recruiting trail, he will not go quietly without making a splash that reverberates throughout the college basketball landscape.
Shortly after the NBA draft withdrawal window closed at midnight on Thursday, St. John’s procured one of the most sought-after players in the transfer portal. First reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, former Baylor star Tounde Yessoufou announced his return to college basketball and that he will commit to St. John’s.
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Yessoufou went through the full NBA draft process and graded remarkably well in the combine’s physical testing, but there were no guarantees that he was going to be a first-round pick. While scouts laud his exciting blend of strength and speed, high motor, and defensive upside, he was still regarded as an unfinished product on the offensive end, struggling with shooting consistency and passing during a difficult year for the Bears.
ESPN and Yahoo Sports tabbed Yessoufou as an early second-round selection in their most recent mock drafts, while CBS Sports and The Athletic mocked him as one of the final picks in the first round.
Now, the gifted 6-foot-5 guard from Benin is back in college to sharpen the edges of his two-way skillset and elevate his draft stock under the guidance of a Hall of Fame head coach, playing in a system that fits him to a tee.
As a freshman, Yessoufou recorded 17.8 points per game, 5.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 2.0 steals per game while hitting 46.5% from the field, 29.3% from three, and 74.6% from the free throw line, earning an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention nod. Prior to his college career, Yessoufou was named a McDonald’s All-American and ranked as the 14th-best prospect in the class of 2025 according to 247Sports Composite.
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The Red Storm may also not be finished in the portal. According to Jon Rothstein, Yessoufou’s commitment won’t preclude St. John’s from continuing their pursuit of Milan Momcilovic, the prized Iowa State transfer who also announced his withdrawal from the NBA draft process. Other major suitors for the All-Big 12 forward are Kentucky, Louisville, and Arizona. Momcilovic averaged 16.9 points and 3.1 assists for the Cyclones last season while shooting 50.6% from the floor and an astounding 48.7% from three.
Yessoufou is expected to start alongside returnees Ian Jackson and Ruben Prey, English point guard Quinn Ellis, and Syracuse transfer Donnie Freeman, forming an intriguing lineup with physicality, length, and scoring potential that should contend for a third consecutive Big East title.
