Note #059: Tounde Yessoufou (Finding His Tempo)
New St. John's wing Tounde Yessoufou, who played at Baylor in 2025-26 and tested the NBA Draft waters before transferring, prepares for his highly-anticipated sophomore 2026-27 season.
As a freshman for the Bears, Yessoufou didn't hear "no" often, flying through GO to collect this per game profile (in 34 GP, 32.6 MP/G):
- 17.8 PPG
- 5.9 RPG
- 1.6 APG
- 2.0 SPG
- 0.6 BPG
Since 1947-48, just one freshman besides Yessoufou averaged 17.5+ PPG, 5.5+ PPG, 1.5+ APG, 2+ SPG, 0.5+ BPG in 33 MP/G or less (min. 30 GP):
Zion Williamson (2018-19) - 22.6 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 2.1 APG, 2.1 SPG, 1.8 BPG (33 GP, 30.0 MP/G)
For fun, five sophomores also qualify for the above (wait until you see it):
17.5-18 PPG
1. Dachon Burke (2017-18) - 17.6 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 2.5 APG, 2.1 SPG, 0.5 BPG (32 GP, 32.6 MP/G)
2. Dwayne Wade (2001-02) - 17.8 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 3.4 APG, 2.5 SPG, 1.1 BPG (32 GP, 29.2 MP/G)
3. Marcus Smart (2013-14) - 18.0 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 4.8 APG, 2.9 SPG, 0.6 BPG (31 GP, 32.7 MP/G)
18+ PPG
4. Michael Jordan (1982-83) - 20.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 1.6 APG, 2.2 SPG, 0.8 BPG (36 GP, 30.9 MP/G)
5. DeSean Murray (2015-16) - 20.2 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 1.7 APG, 2.0 SPG, 0.5 BPG (31 GP, 29.1 MP/G)
That's right, MJ!!!
And the three juniors to meet those thresholds:
1. Ahmad Thomas (2016-17) - 18.0 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 2.3 APG, 3.0 SPG, 0.5 BPG (33 GP, 33.0 MP/G)
2. Amarri Monroe (2024-25) - 18.1 PPG, 9.1 RPG!, 1.6 APG, 2.3 SPG, 0.8 BPG (32 GP, 32.9 MP/G)
3. Dwayne Wade (2002-03) - 21.5 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 4.4 APG, 2.2 SPG, 1.3 BPG (33 GP, 32.1 MP/G)
Yessir, D-Wade did it twice!
Side note: the only player in 2025-26 besides Yessoufou to satisfy these per game baselines was senior:
Aaron Nkrumah - 17.7 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 3.0 APG, 2.8 SPG, 0.5 BPG (33 GP, 31.4 MP/G)
Okay, if we remove the MP/G and GP criteria, and look at just freshmen, two more names join Yessoufou and Williamson from earlier:
1. Ben Simmons (2015-16) - 19.2 PPG, 11.8 RPG!, 4.8 APG, 2.0 SPG, 0.8 BPG (33 GP, 34.9 MP/G)
2. Kenny Battle (1984-85) - 20.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 2.2 APG, 2.2 SPG, 1.5 BPG (27 GP, 37.1 MP/G)
Next, if we remove BPG entirely, four more freshmen find their way:
1. Kenny Anderson (1989-90) - 20.6 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 8.1 APG!, 2.3 SPG (35 GP, 37.7 MP/G)
2. Danny Ainge (1977-78) - 21.1 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 5.3 APG, 2.0 SPG (30 GP, 38.0 MP/G)
3. Michael Redd (1997-98) - 21.9 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 3.0 APG, 2.0 SPG (30 GP, 37.9 MP/G)
4. Jason Conley (2001-02) - 29.3 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 2.4 APG, 2.9 SPG (28 GP, 34.3 MP/G)
Wade, well, wades around in Note #035 on Aaron Nkrumah^ and Note #038 on top 25 2026 NBA Draft selection Cameron Carr.
Smart is also in the Nkrumah Note, plus Note #042 on Iowa State's former engine Tamin Lipsey.
We first met Monroe in Note #045 on Otega Oweh's Kentucky career, and you can read about Redd in Note #054 on Northwestern's Nick Martinelli.