Projected NBA lottery pick Tounde Yessoufou wants to be a role model for African kids

The West African country of Benin is known for being the birthplace of voodoo, the home of the all-female military regiment Dahomey Amazons featured in the movie “The Woman King” and as having been a major hub for the transatlantic slave trade. Next year, Benin is expected to have its first native born NBA player in Baylor guard Tounde Yessoufou.

“I’m from Benin. I can compete. And I definitely belong here,” Yessoufou told Andscape during the 2025 Hoop Summit in Portland, Oregon, on April 13.

The 2026 NBA draft class is expected to be highlighted by one of the most notable freshman classes in years. Brigham Young forward AJ Dybantsa, Kansas guard Darryn Peterson and Duke forward Cameron Boozer are the top freshman prospects but Yessoufou isn’t far behind. The five-star prospect from Santa Maria St. Joseph High scored a California high school record 3,467 points. During the 2025 Hoop Summit against a talented USA squad led by Dybantsa and Boozer, Yessoufou scored 24 points in 29 minutes while representing Benin for the World Team. Yessoufou also didn’t disappoint in his college debut, logging 24 points, seven rebounds and two made 3-pointers during a 96-81 win over the University of Texas-Rio Grande on Nov. 3.

While the 19-year-old views himself as a guard and is listed as one, he is on the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Preseason Watch List. Yessoufou and Baylor host Washington tonight on ESPN at 8:30 p.m. ET.

“What makes him a little different than some of the other freshmen we’ve had here is he’s very similar to [San Antonio Spurs forward] Jeremy Sohan, a great defender who could guard multiple positions,” Baylor head coach Scott Drew said. “Tounde is somebody physically that can guard multiple positions and wants to be an elite defender and is a tremendous rebounder for his size. That makes him a little different from the other people in his draft class. He has a little more physicality to him than some of the guys we’ve had in recent years because he’s bigger, stronger.”

Yessoufou was born in Cotonou, which is Benin’s largest city, the seat of government for the country and a major port city on the Gulf of Guinea. Like many African kids, he grew up playing and loving the game of soccer. That mentality changed at 9 years old after being pushed by a local coach to try basketball.

Yessoufou quickly fell in the love with the game, began taking it seriously and was inspired to come to America to follow his basketball dream after seeing a friend take the path. His mother and other family members were more concerned about his academics, but he stayed committed with big dreams in mind. Yessoufou was also inspired by late NBA great Kobe Bryant and his “Mamba Mentality.”

“I was playing soccer and one of the coached kicked us out the soccer field and told us, ‘Instead of playing soccer, come play basketball,’ ” Yessoufou said. “And all my friends, they left because everybody loves soccer. So, I’m a curious type of guy. So, I stayed and I watched the practices and it was kind of was beautiful for me. So, that is how I ending up playing. At first it was just for fun. But then when I started watching Kobe Bryant, his mentality and all that stuff, I fell in love with it and I feel like it became a passion and that it was something I want to do for the future.”

Yessoufou earned an opportunity to come to America to play basketball and left Benin on June 15, 2021, at the age of 15. He spoke French and no English at the time, had no friends and realized upon arrival that didn’t like the colder climate than he was accustomed to in Benin. He was blessed to move in with a caring host family in Santa Maria 7,500 miles away from home. He also eventually learned English, which he speaks fluently now.

Yessoufou also spent his first week in America in the hospital after arriving with malaria and almost lost his life. He promised himself after that life-threatening experience to give 100-percent effort anytime he played basketball.

“Coming out here, I knew I had to adjust to play good basketball, be a good leader. But most importantly, I feel like my devotion and my education are the things that drove me to be great,” Yessoufou said.

Yessoufou chose to play for Baylor because not only because of its storied basketball program and Drew, but also — to the delight of his mother — it’s a Christian school. Baylor has also produced numerous NBA players in recent years including Jeremy Sochan, Keyonte George, Jared Butler, Davion Mitchell, Adam Flagler, VJ Edgecombe, Yves Missi and Ja’Kobe Walter.

“I chose Baylor because of the culture,” Yessoufou said. “I feel like coach has been doing a good job out there and has been a good mentor for those kids. The spirit of God drives me to just want to be good, but most importantly I feel like he brings the confidence to the players to step on the floor and fight every night.”

Said Drew: “As you know, Benin is not a hotbed for talent because there hasn’t been a lot of NBA players, college players from there. But at the same time, once you get to the States, everybody knows who’s who. And nationally, everybody had Tounde ranked. Everybody talked about him.

“But what stood out for us is just the common denominator of being a great teammate, high character, great young man. And a lot of people said, ‘He’s a Baylor kid, you got to recruit him.’ And we loved hearing that.”

What is just as impressive as Yessoufou’s game on the court is his mentality to already give back off the court.

Yessoufou said his mother has always told him to make sure he doesn’t forget where he comes from and to give back when able. Yessoufou also took inspiration from Sacramento Kings guard Russell Westbrook’s play and philanthropy. In September, Yessoufou unveiled a new outdoor basketball court that he had made bearing his name on it in his mother’s hometown of Djougou, Benin. He also provided food and school supplies to an orphanage in Lakossa, Benin.

“I want to be a role model for the whole continent. Not just for my country, but for all the African kids out there,” Yessoufou said.

Said Drew: “He is a remarkable young man and so rejuvenating and exciting. He remembers where he came from and his humble beginning. His desire to give back and impact others is special, and that touches everybody’s heart.”

The NBA has had players with ties from Benin. Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama, Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura, Minnesota Timberwolves rookie center Joan Beringer and former Spurs center Ian Mahinmi (an investor in NBA Africa) all have family ties to Benin. But if selected in the 2026 NBA draft as expected, Yessoufou would be the first Benin native to be drafted.

The NBA entered the season with a record 17 African players including Joel Embiid, Pascal Siakam, Jonathan Kuminga and Khaman Maluach, among others. Yessoufou appears to be the next African in line to make a name for himself.

“The motivation is putting on for my country, honestly, and to just get out there, compete against those guys, show them that I’m from Benin and I can compete against them and I belong there,” Yessoufou said. “But most importantly, I want to win so bad.”

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