Tennessee Basketball makes final 10 for top-20 recruit Tounde Yessoufou
Tennessee Basketball is one of the final 10 schools still in the running for Tounde Yessoufou, a top-20 basketball prospect in the class of 2025, according to On3’s Joe Tipton. The Vols were joined by Baylor, UConn, Kentucky, Kansas, Arizona, UCLA, Arizona State, USC and Washington.
The 6-foot-5, 210-pound Yessoufou, a wing out of St. Joseph High School in Santa Maria, Calif., is the No. 19 overall prospect in the On3 Industry Ranking. He’s the No. 4 small forward nationally and the No. 2 overall prospect out of the state of California.
Yessoufou is ranked No. 13 overall in the On3 rankings, which also has him as the No. 4 small forward nationally and the No. 1 player in California.
Tounde Yessoufou planning Tennessee visit
“My relationship with Tennessee is really good,” Yessoufou told Tipton. “I’ve been talking with Coach Rod Clark, he is a great guy. He keeps everything real with me, he says that everyone knows that I can shoot now, but I have to keep punishing the glass and going to rebound every time I can and that opens the floor for me to knock down shots.
“Offensively, they play fast and they are strong on defense. They develop players and the way they play is really impressive. I watched them play a few times last year and they were doing some great things. He trusts his players.”
Yessoufou recently took visits to USC and Arizona and told Tipton that he’s planning a visit to Tennessee as well, along with Kentucky, UConn and Kansas. He plans to sign during the early period in November.
“I don’t have dates yet for those other schools,” he told Tipton, “because all of them want to go last so it has been hard to get dates.”
On3 Scouting Report — Tounde Yessoufou
Tounde Yessoufou is a physically developed, explosively athletic wing prospect. Consistent production is the name of the game for the 6-5 Yessoufou. Defensively, he guards multiple positions, able to move his feet on the perimeter or switch down to guard some on the block. He has the quick-twitch to defend the ball and the anticipation and length as a team defender. Offensively, he has a solid pace and is at his best getting downhill in straight lines. Yessoufou needs to continue working on his middle game and his counters off the bounce. The jump shot is coming along but could also use some continued attention. The shot release can get flat and his balance/footwork get off when shooting off movement. He fills the lanes hard, pushes the break with pace, and is tough on the boards. He has consistently produced in every setting. Excellent motor.
