5-star forward Tounde Yessoufou commits to Baylor

2025 five-star forward Tounde Yessoufou committed to play for Baylor and head coach Scott Drew next season, Yessoufou told On3.com's Joe Tipton on Wednesday.

The 6-foot-5 small forward chose the Bears over Arizona State and USC.

"Honestly, it felt like home," Yessoufou said. "It's a small, tight-knit community where everyone genuinely cares for each other."

Yessoufou admitted Drew's commitment to the university heavily influenced his decision: "He's been at Baylor for over 23 years, which means a lot to me. He knows what it takes to be a winner and a champion."

Baylor won the 2021 NCAA Tournament with a historic 28-2 record.

Yessoufou is No. 18 in ESPN's recruiting rankings and is considered the second-best player out of California. He is the first player from the 2025 class to commit to Baylor.

Last season, the Bears went 24-11 and finished third in the Big 12, going 11-7 in conference play. They lost to Clemson in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.