Rick Pitino has done it again. Just hours after the NBA draft withdrawal deadline closed at midnight on Thursday, St. John’s landed one of the most coveted players in the transfer portal. Former Baylor standout Tounde Yessoufou announced his commitment to the Red Storm, withdrawing from draft consideration to return to college basketball. The move, first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, sends a clear message about where St. John’s is headed and how seriously Pitino takes recruiting on the national stage.
Why Yessoufou chose college over the draft
Yessoufou went through the full NBA draft process and performed well. At the combine, his physical testing numbers stood out. Scouts praised his blend of strength and speed, his motor and his defensive upside. However, there were real questions about his offensive game. His shooting consistency and passing both drew scrutiny during what was a difficult season for the Baylor program overall.
Mock draft projections reflected that uncertainty. ESPN and Yahoo Sports both pegged him as an early second-round pick. CBS Sports and The Athletic placed him closer to the back end of the first round. In short, a guaranteed first-round slot was not on the table. As a result, returning to college to sharpen his skills and boost his draft stock made a great deal of sense. St. John’s, with Pitino running the show, offered the ideal environment to do exactly that.
What Yessoufou brings to St. John’s
The 6-foot-5 guard from Benin brings an impressive résumé to the Red Storm. As a freshman at Baylor, he averaged 17.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.6 assists per game. He shot 46.5% from the field and earned an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention. Those numbers came despite the team’s struggles, which speaks to his individual quality as a player.
Before college, Yessoufou was a McDonald’s All-American. He ranked as the 14th-best prospect in the class of 2025 according to the 247Sports Composite. In other words, this is a player who arrived at Baylor with enormous expectations and still managed to deliver as a freshman despite a tough team context.
At St. John’s, he joins a roster that already carries real talent. His expected starting lineup includes 4 other key pieces: 1. Ian Jackson, a returning Red Storm contributor; 2. Ruben Prey, another returnee who adds experience; 3. Quinn Ellis, an English point guard who brings skill and vision; and 4. Donnie Freeman, a transfer from Syracuse who adds scoring punch. Together, that group gives St. John’s a lineup with length, physicality and serious offensive potential.
The Big East title hunt continues
St. John’s has won back-to-back Big East titles. The addition of Yessoufou signals the program is not content to rest on that success. Instead, Pitino is actively building a squad capable of competing for a third straight conference crown. That kind of sustained ambition is rare in college basketball, where roster turnover through the transfer portal can make continuity difficult to maintain.
Furthermore, the Red Storm may not be finished in the portal just yet. According to reporter Jon Rothstein, Yessoufou’s commitment does not close the door on St. John’s pursuit of Milan Momcilovic. The Iowa State transfer and All-Big 12 forward also recently withdrew from the NBA draft. Momcilovic averaged 16.9 points and 3.1 assists last season while shooting 50.6% from the floor and a remarkable 48.7% from three. Kentucky, Louisville and Arizona are also in the mix for his commitment. However, St. John’s remains very much in the conversation.
What this means for the college basketball landscape
Yessoufou’s decision to return to college rather than risk a lower draft slot is a smart and calculated move. A full season under Pitino, in a high-profile Big East program with a winning culture, gives him the best possible platform to address the offensive concerns that held him back in mock draft projections. If he can improve his three-point shooting and decision-making, he could push himself firmly into first-round territory by next spring.
For St. John’s, the signing is a major statement. It confirms that the Red Storm are no longer just a good program. They are a destination.
Source: SB Nation / Yahoo Sports
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