2026 NBA Draft
Tounde Yessoufou
Scouting report workspace for notes, evaluation context, and final draft outlook.
Stats
PTS: 17.8 | REB: 5.8 | AST: 1.6 | STL: 2.0 | BLK: 0.5 | FG%: 46.9 | 3PT%: 30.2 | FT%: 74.4
Info
School: St. John's | Class: Sophomore, recently transferred from Baylor; withdrew from the draft | Position: SG | Height: 6'5" | Weight: 215 | Wingspan: 6'8"
Strength
Yessoufou brings constant energy and effort on both ends of the floor. He's a smart cutter who finds gaps in the defense, and his strength and motor make him a force on the offensive glass. Defensively, he's one of the best on-ball freshman defenders in the country, with active hands, strong shot-blocking for a wing, and the ability to sit down and guard. When he doesn't settle, he can finish tough layups through contact and shows flashes of touch when he's patient. He has improved as a shooter and shot creation throughout the year, and has proved that he can make shots at big moments. He has been giving more post touches in the second half of the season, and has been doing a decent job scoring and playmaking from it. While the handle is still limited, there are small signs of growth in his ability to survive traps and make simple passes.
Weakness
With his potential and athleticism, he can settle for too many threes at times. When sped up, he can get out of control and force difficult finishes, especially in transition, where he's missed makeable layups by rushing. His execution dips on both ends when he's not fully locked in. Most of his offense comes from cuts and offensive rebounds in the first half of the season, and he hasn't shown much as a half-court creator. Ball handling and playmaking still need a lot of work, there are flashes of him being the connective passer, but there are also turnovers and missed reads. He needs to learn to stay patient when attacking the rim and rely on his strength rather than forcing tough shots.
Outlook
Yessoufou projects as a high energy, high impact role player early in his career. He already averages scoring production off pure effort, cutting, and rebounding, so adding a reliable jumper would take his game to another level. He's unlikely to ever be a primary option, but he has elite point of attack defensive potential and the physical tools to guard NBA wings immediately. How much his ball handling and playmaking translate will determine his long term upside, but even in a limited role, he brings winning tools and one of the most translatable effort profiles in the class.