Former Tounde Yessoufou officially entered the transfer portal just before the Tuesday night deadline of 11:59 p.m., as reported by Pete Nakos of On3. This development follows several weeks of uncertainty regarding the talented guard’s plans.
Earlier in April, on the 10th, Yessoufou declared his intention to explore the NBA Draft process, with many analysts viewing him as a potential one-and-done prospect after a standout freshman season at Baylor. By also entering the portal, he gains additional options while determining his next move.
The 6-foot-5, 215-pound guard delivered an impressive freshman year, posting averages of 17.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game on 46.5% shooting from the floor. Although his three-point percentage sat at 29.3% indicating room to improve his scoring ability and transition play made him one of the nation’s most electrifying young guards. Yessoufou started all 34 games for Baylor and quickly became a central figure in their offense.
Coming out of high school, Kentucky was among Yessoufou’s top ten choices, along with UConn, Kansas, and UCLA. He eventually picked Baylor without ever visiting Kentucky, but the Wildcats might now have another opportunity.
Still, early indications point toward UCLA, according to Joe Tipton of On3, especially given that Yessoufou is a California native. His “do-not-contact” tag is noteworthy, often hinting that a player already has a specific school in mind or wishes to limit outside recruitment.
If Kentucky and head coach Mark Pope miss out on Yessoufou, the staff could quickly turn their attention to elite 2026 recruit Tyran Stokes as they continue shaping their future roster.
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