Baylor Bears wing Tounde Yessoufou is one of the most athletic and well-built wings in this year’s draft. Now that the College Basketball season is underway, it is time to become familiar with some of the top draft prospects in this class. Let’s dive into a prospect overview of the 2026 NBA Draft prospect, Tounde Yessoufou.
2026 NBA Draft Prospect Overview: Baylor’s Tounde Yessoufou
Areas Of Excellence
NBA-Ready Frame And Excellent Athleticism
One area in which Yessoufou clearly stands out is his NBA-ready physical tools. Specifically, he has a strong frame that allows him to play with great physicality. Not only that, but he also has the athleticism to make explosive plays. Yessoufou utilizes his physical tools well on both ends. He can force a turnover on one end, then throw down a highlight dunk on the other.
Strong Defensive Ability And Rebounding
In terms of his skills, Yessoufou is certainly a skilled defender and rebounder for his position. Standing at six-foot-five, Yessoufou’s athleticism and strength allow him to be a versatile defender who can cover multiple positions. He has the physicality to defend bigger wings while also having the athleticism and quickness to cover guards on the perimeter. Additionally, Yessoufou is constantly being active with his length, forcing turnovers in the passing lanes and altering shots. He also uses his length and high energy to be a force on the boards.
Great Interior Scoring And Offensive Upside
While Yessoufou is far more skilled on the defensive end, he has shown plenty of impressive flashes on the offensive end. He uses his frame and athleticism to provide immense rim pressure. Yessoufou can bully smaller defenders and drive straight to the rim. Plus, his physicality allows him to draw contact and get to the free-throw line, where he is shooting 85.7% from the line this season. That free-throw shooting is also a positive sign for the development of his three-point shot. While not a consistent shooter, Yessoufou has flashed potential as a shooter from beyond the arc. Furthermore, he has also demonstrated additional flashes in the mid-range.
Areas Of Concern
Lack Of Three-Point Consistency
One area that Yessoufou still needs improvement in is his three-point shooting. While his shooting form isn’t bad, he hasn’t been consistent in knocking down shots from beyond the arc. In fact, Yessoufou is currently only shooting 20% from three on five attempts per game. He must become a better shooter to fully unlock his potential as an elite defensive wing with floor-spacing capabilities. Not only that, but his slashing ability will only be enhanced by the threat of his shot. If he can improve, defenders will have to close out harder against Yessoufou, allowing him better opportunities to drive.
Developing On-Ball Creation
Alongside his three-point shooting, Yessoufou’s overall on-ball creation is still a work in progress. While he can drive from the perimeter, Yessoufou is mostly reliant on his physicality to create advantages against opposing defenses. He doesn’t fully utilize his ball-handling to help him gain an upper hand against defenders and get to his spots. If Yessoufou wants to increase his ceiling as an offensive player, he must get better as a shot creator. His athleticism and physicality alone won’t be enough to reliably create offense at the NBA level. Combining his strength with a more developed handle, Yessoufou could be a far more effective scorer.
The Last Word
Overall, Yessoufou is a big-bodied, athletic swingman who can be a tough defender and excellent rebounder. While he certainly needs to develop his shooting and on-ball perimeter creation ability further, the flashes he’s shown reveals his potential as a dynamic two-way force out on the court. He certainly knows how to utilize his strength and athleticism to provide major rim pressure for his team. Regardless, Yessoufou already possesses an NBA-ready body and the defensive versatility to be a high-level defender at the next level. Yessoufou and the Baylor Bears will be a team to watch as the season progresses.
Featured Image: Chris Jones-Imagn Images
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