Tounde Yessoufou Earns Big 12 Honors After Historic Week for Baylor
When a freshman drops 37 points on a ranked opponent, people take notice. When that same freshman does it while stuffing the stat sheet and barely leaving the floor, the conference takes notice too.
Baylor’s Tounde Yessoufou has officially arrived - and the Big 12 just confirmed it, naming him to the Big 12 Starting Five for his standout performances against No. 22 BYU and No.
24 Louisville.
Let’s break down what made this week so special for the young guard.
A Career Night Against BYU
Yessoufou was electric in front of the home crowd against BYU, pouring in a career-high 37 points - the most ever by a Baylor player against a ranked opponent. That’s not just a good game; that’s a program-defining performance.
He was everywhere on the floor, knocking down 12 shots on 19 attempts, including five triples. He looked confident, composed, and downright dangerous every time he touched the ball.
And it wasn’t just about scoring - it was the efficiency and control. Yessoufou’s shot selection was sharp, and he didn’t force the issue. He let the game come to him, and BYU had no answers.
Consistency on the Big Stage
Following up a game like that is no easy task, but Yessoufou didn’t fade. In a neutral-site matchup in Fort Worth against No. 24 Louisville, he once again delivered in double figures, rounding out a two-game stretch that saw him average 26.5 points - the third-highest mark in the Big 12 for the week.
He logged all but four minutes across the two contests, showing not just scoring prowess but endurance and defensive impact as well. He picked up five steals over the week, continuing to prove he’s more than just a bucket-getter.
Making History and Setting the Standard
The numbers speak for themselves. Yessoufou is currently the only Division I freshman averaging at least 15.0 points and 2.0 steals per game this season. That’s elite territory, and he’s doing it in one of the most competitive conferences in college basketball.
For the season, he’s putting up 18.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.1 steals per game, while shooting nearly 48% from the field. His three-point percentage sits at 31.9%, and while there’s room for growth there, his ability to knock down big shots - like he did against BYU - shows the upside is real.
And let’s not forget: this is a freshman we’re talking about. He’s not just holding his own; he’s making history.
What’s Next
Baylor will need Yessoufou to keep the momentum going as they head to Manhattan for a showdown with Kansas State on Tuesday night. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m.
CT on ESPN2. With the way Yessoufou is playing, all eyes will be on him once again.
Big 12 Starting Five - Feb. 16
- Tounde Yessoufou, Baylor
- AJ Dybantsa, BYU (newcomer)
- Rob Wright III, BYU
- Emanuel Sharp, Houston
- JT Toppin, Texas Tech (player)
The Big 12 is stacked with talent, but Yessoufou is quickly carving out his place among the league’s rising stars - and he’s just getting started.