Rick Pitino has revitalized St. John’s men’s basketball and led the program to a No. 2 seed in the 2025 NCAA tournament and a Big East tournament championship, with March Madness exits in the Round of 32 and Sweet 16. Pitino is nearing the end of his coaching career, turning 74 before the 2026-27 season, and is focused on building an elite team quickly. Tounde Yessoufou was expected to enter the 2026 NBA Draft, but concerns about shooting and playmaking led him to withdraw and enter the transfer portal. He transferred to St. John’s at the deadline and is reportedly set to earn upwards of $7 million. Similar high-payments have occurred elsewhere, including Florida paying Thomas Haugh at least $8 million to return to college.
"Pitino led St. John's to a No. 2 seed in the 2025 NCAA tournament, but the team lost in the round of 32. This past season, St. John's repeated as the Big East tournament champions, but their March Madness run ended in the Sweet 16 as a No. 5 seed. Pitino is going all out to put a Final Four caliber team together before he eventually retires, and on Wednesday night the Red Storm landed the final piece of what should be another elite roster."
"Baylor wing Tounde Yessoufou was thought to be a lock to enter the 2026 NBA Draft for most of his freshman year. Questions about his three-point shooting and playmaking eventually pushed him down the board, and when he entered his name in the transfer portal, many started to wonder if a college program would out-bid the NBA for his services. That's exactly what happened: Yessoufou withdrew from the NBA and transferred to St. John's at the college withdrawal deadline this week, and he reportedly got a huge sum of money to do it."
"Yessoufou will reportedly make "upwards of $7 million" playing for St. John's next season, according to reporter Aaron Heisen. It's a shocking figure, but that's what talent goes for in today's era of college hoops. The Florida Gators reportedly paid Thomas Haugh at least $8 million to bypass the 2026 NBA Draft for a return to college. Haugh was a projected lottery pick, while Yessoufou was likely going in the late 20s or even the early second-round if he kept his name in."
Read at SB Nation
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