Rick Pitino is building something real at St. John’s, and Thursday’s news only added more momentum.
Former Baylor standout Tounde Yessoufou officially withdrew from the 2026 NBA Draft and committed to St. John’s, giving the Red Storm another major addition after last season’s Sweet 16 run. The explosive guard had been viewed as a potential late first-round pick, but instead chose to return to college basketball and play under Pitino in Queens.
Coming to Queens
Yessoufou brings immediate star power to the roster after averaging 17.8 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game at Baylor last season. Even with inconsistent perimeter shooting, he still proved to be one of the most productive two-way guards in the country because of his athleticism, physicality and ability to attack the rim.
That is exactly the kind of player Pitino loves building around.
St. John’s needed another high-level scorer who could create pressure offensively, especially after showing flashes of becoming a national contender last season. Yessoufou gives the Red Storm a player capable of taking over games in transition, defending multiple positions and bringing energy every night.
That's not all for Pitino
The scary part for the rest of college basketball is that St. John’s may not be finished.
Reports continue linking the Red Storm to former Iowa State forward Milan Momcilovic, one of the best shooters currently available. Momcilovic averaged 16.9 points per game last season and shot nearly 49 percent from three-point range for the Cyclones.
If Pitino somehow lands both Yessoufou and Momcilovic, St. John’s would suddenly have one of the most balanced and dangerous starting groups in the country.
Yessoufou already changes the ceiling for this team. His decision to pass on the NBA Draft says a lot about how attractive the St. John’s program has become under Pitino in such a short amount of time.
The Red Storm are no longer trying to catch up nationally.
They are starting to look like a team ready to seriously chase a Final Four.
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