Former Tounde Yessoufou has officially entered the transfer portal, doing so late Tuesday night just before the 11:59 p.m. deadline, according to Pete Nakos of On3. The move comes after weeks of speculation surrounding the standout guard’s future.
Earlier this month, on April 10, Yessoufou announced he would test the NBA Draft waters, with many believing that he could be a one-and-done prospect after a strong freshman campaign with Baylor. However, his decision to also enter the portal gives him added
flexibility as he evaluates his next step.
The 6-foot-5, 215-pound guard put together an impressive season, averaging 17.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game while shooting 46.5% from the field. Though his 29.3% mark from 3-point range shows room for growth, Yessoufou’s ability to score and attack in transition made him one of the most dynamic young guards in the country. He started all 34 games for Baylor, quickly establishing himself as a focal point.
Coming out of high school, Kentucky was among Yessoufou’s top-10 finalists, alongside programs like UConn, Kansas, and UCLA. He ultimately chose Baylor without visiting Kentucky, but the Wildcats could now get a second shot.
However, early buzz is pointing to UCLA, according to Joe Tipton of On3, especially with Yessoufou being a California native. His “do-not-contact” tag adds intrigue, often signaling a player already has a destination in mind or prefers limited outreach.
If Kentucky and head coach Mark Pope miss out, the staff may quickly pivot to elite 2026 prospect Tyran Stokes as they continue building for the future.
