Is Staying in college

Strengths: Elite Physicality, Great Motor, Defensive Versatility, Natural Defensive Ability, Downhill Scoring, Transition, Rebounding,

Weaknesses: Shooting, Ball Handling, Offensive Creation, Lateral Mobility, Efficiency,

Role/Slasher, Ceiling/Dpoy Winner, Floor/Rotation, Expectation/Starter, Position/GF

better drake powell

i buy the future of the shot but its not there yet

great hounding defender

great transition athlete and finisher

comp aaron gordon?

Pros:

1. Great Hustle

2. High Motor

3. Good Rebounding for a guard

4. Good Defender

5. If jumper develops, one of the most valued archetypes

Cons:

1. Streaky Shooter

2. Doesn't get Many points outside of the paint

3. Lower Ceiling than other prospects

Pro Comp: Herb Jones, Josh Hart Ceiling: Starter on a championship team Floor: Bench warmer, energy guy

Best Team Fits: Utah, Portland, Milwaukee, Miami Calling Card: Hustle, Finishing

Year: Freshman

2025–26 Season Stats: 12 G, 19.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 2.2 apg, 51% FG, 31% 3P

Yessoufou is a very physically gifted wing with great scoring ability and defensive upside. Yessoufou was a five-star recruit out of high school, and he has lived up to that prestige so far in his freshman year at Baylor. He is a very powerful and efficient scorer inside the arc, and he is relentless in driving to the rim. Has one of the best motors in the class, and really shows it on the defensive boards and on the defensive side of the basketball. His defensive versatility is a big plus as well, with the ability to guard 2–4 great, and switch onto 1s and 5s with not much hassle. Some of the bigger concerns with his game, however, come from outside the arc. He is a very inconsistent outside shooter who has shown flashes of hitting tough shots on the perimeter, but really can also go cold sometimes as well. Also, when driving to the rim and creating for himself off the dribble, he tends to lean on his physical superiority and frame, and he will have to develop his skills as a creator more in the league. Tounde can also tend to have a bit of a reckless shot selection at times, and needs to improve that, along with some of his passing skills.

Early Player Comp: OG Anunoby

Best Team Fits: Hornets, Pacers, Trail Blazers

COMPARISONS: STANLEY JOHNSON, JOSH OKOGIE, ANTHONY EDWARDS, JDUB

++PHYSICALS++ A BIT OF A PROJECT, YESSOUFOU IS A HIGH ENERGY WING. HE'S GOT GOOD ATHLETICISM AND SIZE FOR A 2/3 AND WORKS NONSTOP.

++OFFENSE++ AS OF NOW YESSOUFOU IS BEST AS A SLASHER, BUT SHOWS SOME UPSIDE FOR SHOOTING. WAS A LOW EFFICIENCY SHOOTER IN COLLEGE, BUT WAS IMPROVED FROM HS, AND IF YOU REMOVE ALL THE HARD THINGS HE WON'T DO AT THE NEXT LEVEL (OFF DRIBBLE, OFF MOVEMENT, TRANSITION) AND LOOK AT JUST SPOT UP, HE LOOKS A LOT CLOSER TO AVERAGE. IN ADDITION YESSOUFOU CAN ATTACK CLOSEOUTS VERY WELL, SO IF THE SHOT CONTINUES TO IMPROVE ITS AN INTRIGUING COMBO OF SKILLS THERE. THE SHOT SELECTION AND HANDLE ARE WEAK RIGHT NOW, SO RELEGATING HIM TO A ROTATIONAL 3/D ROLE EARLY IS IDEAL. IF HE REALLY WORKS AND EVOLVES THERE THOUGH, YOU START TO SEE THE COMBO OF SIZE, ATHLETICISM AND SKILL WE SEE FROM ANT/JDUB. I DONT PROJECT HIM TO EVER REACH THOSE EXACT HEIGHTS, BUT A FRACTION OF THOSE GUYS IS STILL A CEILING WORTH SHOOTING FOR.

++DEFENSE++ WORKHORSE ON THIS END WHO SHOWED A KNACK FOR DEFENSIVE PLAYMAKING. JUMPS PASSES, STRIPS THE BALL, AND STRAIGHT UP RECOVERS TO MEET YOU AT THE RIM. THE DISCIPLINE WAS INCONSISTENT AND AS A YOUNGSTER THAT NEEDS TO IMPROVE TO SEE TIME ON THE FLOOR. BUT IF HE REALLY INVESTS THERE HE HAS THE TOOLS TO BE A GREAT DEFENDER.

RATINGS: OVERALL: 67

REBUILD: 74

CONTENDER: 60

Prospect Rating: 6.5 (WENT BACK TO COLLEGE)

Will come into the league with an NBA ready body and athleticism, very sturdy. Has a great motor to pair with his physical build. This allows him to stay in front of players on defense at an high level, plus has a great feel for getting steals. His defensive ability translates to his ability to run in transition, using his elite explosiveness to finish well on the fast break. He took a decent bit of 3’s in college but didn’t make them at a high percentage. This was mainly due to his shot selection, he tends to take difficult shots trying to do too much. If he can improve his shot diet and continue to work on being consistent with his mechanics he can be a threat at the rim and beyond the arc in the NBA. Has the potential to be an elite two way POA defender in the NBA if he can get his mindset there.

Peak Player Comp: Benedict Mathurin/VJ Edgecombe/Malik Monk Low End: Josh Okogie

Prime: 17/5/5 (83 OVR)