Signal Calling: Tounde Yessoufou is flawed, but making his case nonetheless
California high school's all-time leading scorer has drawn comparisons to one of the NBA's best. Despite his flaws, he has a chance to be a gem in the 2026 class.
Tounde Yessoufou has the profound ability to build momentum, on and off the court. He’s a bullet train on it, charging to the rim with reckless abandon. Off it, he’s one of the quickest-rising prospects in the 2026 NBA Draft class, racking up stellar performances in the highest-caliber exhibitions possible.
That said, he’s not without his flaws. They just might be afterthoughts.
Many have noted the aesthetic similarities to Timberwolves superstar Anthony Edwards, Yessoufou being a tad larger but carrying the same broad-shouldered, strong-chested frame and ridiculous hops, wearing Edwards’ number in a viral practice video.
With the knowledge of how early it is into the 2026 NBA Draft scouting cycle, and that it could all be disproven the moment the collegiate season starts, I’ve become a huge fan of Yessoufou’s.
RECENT
Yessoufou, a Baylor commit, standing 6-foot-6 and weighing 210 pounds, is a physical specimen. Back in 2023, at the Nike Elite 100, Yessoufou registered a 6-foot-9 wingspan as well, although it’s reasonable to believe it could be even longer as he also measured two inches shorter at the time.
The skillset Yessoufou possesses starts in transition. As a standout athlete, Yessoufou has spent his high school years dominating with a head of steam down the court, scoring in the top percentiles, attacking off turnovers and missed baskets. On top of his ability to score in these scenarios is his ability to create them.
With an open lane to the rim, Yessoufou will pull out all kinds of ridiculous slams: back-scratchers, windmills and LeBron-esque tomahawks are all in his bag. He’s not going to come streaking down the middle lane with a center under the rim and flush it, but he’s found ways to win through and around contact.
For one, his strength both in his core and lower body is immaculate. He hangs just a split-second longer than anybody trying to contest, guards the ball on the way up, and stays upright through contact to get a good attempt at the rim.
He’s also added more craft throughout the years. He’s a lot lighter on his feet, loving a spin around a backpedaling defender, or a euro step through a big ready-to-jump at the shot.
Yessoufou creates a ton of these transition opportunities through his defensive playmaking. He’s a real-deal competitor with a motor you can hear humming through your screen, and his bevy of athletic tools make him a near-ideal disruptor.
At first glance, Yessoufou seems to be constantly gambling. He’s opportunistic in passing lanes, constantly looking to deceive whoever has the ball before jumping like a cat or shifting gears to catch up before nabbing the steal. Like Michael Larson, the man who broke the game show ‘Press Your Luck’ with his practiced ability to turn a gamble into a winning method (seriously, look this guy up), Yessoufou knows exactly what he’s trying to accomplish every time he gambles.
His performance in the McDonald’s All-American Game exemplifies this. Yessoufou tallied a game-high six steals against the best prospects in the world. First, he reads Cam Boozer’s eyes perfectly before turning his body mid-air and stealing the pass intended to be lobbed over him. Second, he turns up the speed as Shon Abaev attempts to streak past him, picking off a bounce pass this time. Following that, he tricks Cayden Boozer, bodies up Trey McKinney and nabs a couple more passes in transition.
Overall, his ability to create events on the defensive end is his biggest strength. Yessoufou’s overall defense, particularly on-ball, sits at right about above average despite this elite trait.
Yessoufou’s bounce, strength and speed are notable, and project upside, but a lack of hip mobility keeps him from being a switchable on-ball star. Quick guards can get by him with a change of direction, and, while he’s elite off-ball, being pulled too close into an action, or even just intentionally switched on the ball has been a pain point for him.
BIG BOARD
2025 NBA Draft Big Board 6.0
The NCAA Tournament has nearly concluded, meaning only the prospects on the best teams are still putting film on the table. While most of the attention is deservedly shown to the games currently playing, the brevity between actions gives way to plenty of time to catch up on the players no longer out there.
One area where Yessoufou has continued to grow is his shooting. Yessoufou’s range throughout his high school career has been one of his biggest developments to this point. He used to live on a steady diet of short jumpers from inside the free-throw line, seldom getting to the rim as an on-ball scorer due to handling concerns, but, he was efficient on these shots.
Now, he’s turned into a reliable off-the-dribble shooter, who can at times hit his catch-and-shoot shots. It’s still a developing part of his game, but, recent development is just as good an indicator as any number for projecting shooting.
In EYBL play, Yessoufou scored in the 84th percentile on dribble jumpers. His go-to move is the step-back. With his frame, a lot of players either choose to beat him to the rim, avoiding initial contact, or just struggling to handle the contact immediately. This initial, legal bump gives Yessoufou plenty of room to rise and fire with a step of space.
Yessoufou’s mechanics are a bit funky. His feet are really close together, while his set point is relatively high. There’s a slight pause toward the top of his shot, which is released at the top of his jump with a full extension and little off-hand involvement. He squares himself about 30 degrees to the left of the basket, allowing him to line his shooting elbow up to the basket a bit better.
There’s a bit of junk movement that could stand to be removed and with a wider base and better shot preparation, his catch-and-shoot percentage would likely climb quickly. He has no confidence in letting it fly, however, and volume is a great, great indicator.
The area Yessoufou desperately needs to improve to continue to climb up boards and stick in the NBA is as a ball-handler. He’s a dynamic off-ball player who loves to screen and cut, but being the most physically gifted player on the court at the high school level has awarded him a ton of on-ball reps, showing clearly where his handle is at.
There’s just a good bit of bobble with Yessoufou’s handle. He makes moves a little too quick when handling pressure, and will often have to look down and recover the ball before resuming his attack.
Becoming a great handler is integral for any athlete. It’s what has allowed players like Jimmy Butler and Amen Thompson to ascend to the levels they’ve hit as creators downhill. Yessoufou’s physicality is leagues above his ability to handle at this point. He’ll get into the chest, get poked, recover, and attack again.
Improving his handle, of course, opens up his offensive attack more, but it will also open up playmaking a bit more. Yessoufou isn’t a black hole, but he hasn’t yet become a reliable playmaker. He’s great at finding hit-aheads in transition, leading to buckets off steals or rebounds, but lacks a diverse half-court passing arsenal to better leverage his downhill aggression and budding pull-up shooting.
AMINE
Overall, there’s a lot to like about Yessoufou, in a similar way that there is a lot to like about V.J. Edgecombe, Ron Holland, Cam Whitmore, Amen and Ausar Thompson, and any other athletic off-guard/wing with a defensive tilt and a track record for adding skill to their game.
He’s got a ways to go, but, there’s a lot to like even beyond the inherent physical traits he possesses. He’s massive and burly and explosive, but his competitive nature and track record of growth are the real selling points that Tounde Yessoufou could be a star.
Quick hits!
Dylan Harper is still one of my favorite players in this class, and far and away my second pick for any team that finds themselves picking behind whoever takes Cooper Flagg. He’s massive, jittery and smart, making plays for himself and others at a rate higher than almost anybody in this class, and that has gotten overlooked due to the poor stretch he had when dealing with injury and illness.
Kon Knueppel is getting more buzz than just about anybody in the 2025 NBA Draft class, with some arguing for his candidacy as a top-five pick. Back in August, I talked about his shot-making at an athletic disadvantage and it really showed up in post-season play for Duke. He’s a mismatch scorer, a knockdown shooter and a connective playmaker who can wear more hats than you’d expect.
Walter Clayton Jr. went nuclear over the last month. He’s probably the closest to a Damian Lillard-esque shot-maker you’ll see at the collegiate level. Now, that’s not a one-for-one comparison. Lillard is one-of-one, but if Murray can inject a bit of Lillard into a lineup from day one, he’s beyond deserving of the top-20 love he’s been getting.
I’ve been seeing top-10 love for Carter Bryant, and while I’m not fully behind it, I understand it. What’s not to love about a 6-foot-8 and 225-pound freshman wing who defends his ass off and shot 37 percent from three? For me, the 3-and-D role many have affixed Bryant into is one I still think he’ll need time to contribute in. I’m a big fan of usage as a scaling tool, and Bryant just wasn’t a high-usage fixture, but between the talent, motor and athleticism Bryant possesses, there’s a first-round pick in there to me.
Sion James put himself in the lexicon of all-time great Duke transfers at the close of the season. At 6-foot-5, James played just about every role. He was a primary point-of-attack defender, a spot-up shooter, a screen-setter and a pseudo-point guard. With the likes of Josh Hart, Bruce Brown and other smaller wings fitting themselves onto contenders, some team is bound to fall in love with what James could be off their bench.