Former Kentucky recruit Tounde Yessoufou enters transfer portal, but another school has early buzz

TL;DR

Tounde Yessoufou has entered the transfer portal after a standout season at Baylor, raising speculation about his next move. Early indications suggest UCLA may be a potential destination for the guard.

Key points

Tounde Yessoufou entered the transfer portal before the deadline
He averaged 17.8 points and 5.9 rebounds during his freshman season
UCLA is emerging as a potential destination for Yessoufou

Tounde YessoufouBaylor BearsUCLAKentucky

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 01: Tounde Yessoufou #24 of the Baylor Bears reacts to a call in the second half against the Minnesota Golden Gophers in a first round game of the College Basketball Crown tournament at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 01, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bears defeated the Gophers 67-48. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images) | Getty Images 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, was among Yessoufou’s top-10 finalists, alongside programs like , , and . He ultimately chose Baylor without visiting Kentucky, but the Wildcats could now get a second shot. However, early buzz is pointing to UCLA, especially with Yessoufou being a 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.

Q&A

Why did Tounde Yessoufou enter the transfer portal?

Tounde Yessoufou entered the transfer portal to evaluate his options after a strong freshman season and to maintain flexibility while testing the NBA Draft waters.

What schools were interested in Tounde Yessoufou before he chose Baylor?

Before choosing Baylor, Tounde Yessoufou had Kentucky, UConn, Kansas, and UCLA among his top-10 finalists.

Which school is gaining early momentum to recruit Tounde Yessoufou?

UCLA is gaining early momentum to recruit Tounde Yessoufou, especially considering his California roots.

Former Kentucky recruit Tounde Yessoufou enters transfer portal, but another school has early buzz

TL;DR

Key points

Q&A

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