Baylor Freshman Tounde Yessoufou Named Julius Erving Award Midseason Candidate
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Tounde Yessoufou is making his presence felt - not just in Waco, but across the national college basketball landscape. The Baylor freshman has been named one of 10 midseason candidates for the 2026 Julius Erving Award, which honors the top small forward in men’s college basketball.
This isn’t the first time Yessoufou’s name has been in the conversation. The native of Cotonou, Benin, was already on the radar after being named to the preseason top-20 watch list. Now, he’s cemented his place among the elite with a midseason nod, joining fellow Big 12 standouts AJ Dybantsa (BYU) and Milan Momcilovic (Iowa State) on the prestigious list.
And make no mistake - Yessoufou has earned every bit of this recognition. Through 21 games, he’s averaging 17.3 points per contest, a mark that leads all Big 12 freshmen and puts him firmly in the upper echelon of scorers nationally.
He’s hit double figures in 20 of those 21 games and has topped the 20-point mark eight times. That kind of consistency, especially from a first-year player, is rare - and it’s turning heads.
But Yessoufou isn’t just filling up the scoring column. He’s making an impact on both ends of the floor.
Defensively, he’s averaging two steals per game - good for second in the Big 12 - and his 42 total steals rank third in the conference. He’s shown a knack for reading passing lanes and disrupting offenses, a skill that’s become a key part of Baylor’s defensive identity.
The Julius Erving Award, named after the Hall of Fame legend known for revolutionizing the small forward position, will continue its selection process over the next two months. Fan voting opens Friday, February 6, at hoophallawards.com, and fans will have a say in both of the remaining rounds. The current list of 10 will be narrowed to five finalists in mid-March, with the winner announced later that month after input from Erving himself and the Hall of Fame’s selection committees.
As for Baylor, the Bears are looking to find their footing in Big 12 play. Sitting at 12-9 overall and 2-7 in conference action, they’ll try to get back on track Wednesday night when they host Colorado.
Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. CT, with coverage on Peacock and the Baylor Sports Media Network.
Here’s a look at the full Julius Erving Award Midseason Top 10:
- Tounde Yessoufou, Baylor
- AJ Dybantsa, BYU
- Thomas Haugh, Florida
- Milan Momcilovic, Iowa State
- Ryan Conwell, Louisville
- Andrej Stojaković, Illinois
- Coen Carr, Michigan State
- Nate Ament, Tennessee
- Dailyn Swain, Texas
- Chad Baker-Mazara, USC
With his blend of scoring, defensive effort, and poise beyond his years, Yessoufou is quickly becoming one of the most dynamic freshmen in college basketball. If he keeps this pace, don’t be surprised if his season ends with some serious hardware - and maybe even a few more wins for a Baylor team looking to make a late push.