St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino is once again positioned to turn a college standout into an NBA draft asset, this time with guard Tounde Yessoufou, a Beninese prospect who has drawn first‑round buzz for the 2027 draft.
Draft outlook and team ambitions
Yessoufou began his collegiate career at Baylor, where as a freshman he posted 17.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, ranking second in scoring on the Bears. After withdrawing from the 2026 NBA draft, he transferred to St. John’s with the explicit goal of polishing a three‑point shot that had been inconsistent during his Baylor stint.
Despite a 47.3 percent success rate on two‑point jumpers and 53 made threes, the guard’s shooting percentages revealed room for growth. By returning to college basketball, he hopes to convert those flashes of scoring into a more reliable perimeter threat, a development that could elevate his draft stock and satisfy Pitino’s pro‑ready pipeline.
If the 2027 draft unfolds as projected, Yessoufou would become the second first‑round selection under Pitino’s tenure, following Zuby Ejiofor’s 23rd‑overall pick in 2026. The Red Storm, currently assembled around a core that includes Quinn Ellis, Ian Jackson, Babacar Sane and Ruben Prey, is targeting its third straight Big East title and a deep NCAA Tournament run.
The anticipation surrounding Yessoufou reflects a broader narrative of Pitino’s ability to cultivate talent that bridges college performance and professional readiness, a streak that has already ended an 11‑year draft drought for the program.