Tounde Yessoufou, a five‑star recruit from the class of 2025, announced that he will withdraw from the 2026 NBA Draft and instead enroll at St. John’s University to play for the Red Storm men’s basketball team.
During his freshman season at Baylor he logged 17.8 points, 5.9 rebounds and two steals per game across 34 appearances, while shooting below 30 % from three‑point range. Coaches have praised his positional versatility and defensive instincts, traits that he hopes to refine in a new environment.
A calculated pause
The move is framed as a strategic pause that will allow Yessoufou to develop his game, increase his draft stock for the 2027 NBA Draft and pursue a national championship with a program that expects to be among the nation’s elite next season.
St. John’s Red Storm, bolstered by the addition of the highly touted prospect, is projected to contend strongly in the upcoming campaign. The university’s athletic department, represented by its official website stjohns.edu, expressed enthusiasm about the commitment.
Yessoufou’s former collegiate program, Baylor University, also acknowledged his contributions through its official site baylor.edu, highlighting the impact he made during his tenure in Waco.