Top 15 2025 Tounde Yessoufou has Arizona, UCLA recruiting him

On3 imageby:Jamie Shaw05/05/23

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Tounde Yessoufou is the No. 12 player in the 2025 On3 Industry Ranking. The 6-foot-6 wing averaged 27.8 points on 61.5 percent from the field for his 28-7 Santa Maria (CA) St. Joseph’s team this season.

“I’m someone that can create my own shot or get a bucket getting to the rim,” Yessoufou told On3. “I am really athletic, and I can rebound, and my defense is really good. I watch a lot of Jimmy Butler, my game is similar to his style, so I watch him and try to do the same things.”

This summer, Yessoufou is playing up in grade on Nike’s 17u EYBL Circuit with the Team WhyNot program. The sophomore is leading the team in scoring at 13.3 per game. On3 caught up with Tounde Yessoufou after a recent live viewing to talk about his recruitment.

Yessoufou talks recruitment

“I went on one unofficial visit so far. That was to Arizona when they played UCLA,” Yessoufou said. “I also have offers from Arkansas, Washington, Washington State, and some other ones. We haven’t set up anything yet, and I still have to talk with my coaches, but I do want to go on official visits to UCLA, and Arizona too.”

Arizona: “I think the campus there is great. The coaches there are awesome. Being able to communicate with them really opened my mind up. They really care about African people, and I really like that. I think I can fit in well there with my athleticism, and they play my style.”

UCLA: “I think they are really tough, their whole program, the coaches, and the players. They play good defense, and I hear they are going to the Big Ten. The school is awesome, and I’m looking forward to visiting that campus to see what it’s all about.”

“We’re hearing some from schools like Baylor and Kansas too, but no offers yet,” Yessoufou said.

In Yessoufou’s words

“My grades and my schooling is important,” Yessoufou said. “You always have to have a plan b just in case basketball doesn’t work.

“I want to play on a team that is tough and a team that wins. I want to win a championship. I can play the two through the four, I think, so the position doesn’t matter, but I love playing fast. So I want to go somewhere that plays faster.”