Kentucky already has two players in its 2025 recruiting class: five-star guard Jasper Johnson and the class’s top center, Malachi Moreno. Knowing that Kentucky’s 2024-25 roster is packed of players in their final year of eligibility, Coach Mark Pope must bring in a large 2025 recruiting class. This indicates that Kentucky’s 2025 class will include more than just Johnson and Moreno.
Tounde Yessoufou, a five-star small forward from St. Joseph’s in Santa Maria, California, is one of Kentucky’s top remaining targets in the 2025 class. The 6’5 five-star SF is very interested in playing for Kentucky and has expressed admiration for the head coach. On3, Yessoufou is ranked as the 11th-best player in the 2025 class. According to On3, Kentucky already boasts the #1 class, so acquiring Yessoufou will help them maintain that status.
Yessoufou has reduced his list of potential institutions to six, including Kentucky, Arizona State, UConn, USC, Kansas, and Baylor. All of the big dogs are pursuing Yessoufou, but Coach Pope and the Wildcats have a legitimate shot.
Yessoufou will be in Lexington for a visit on October 11, so this is Kentucky’s opportunity to take a significant lead in the recruiting war. The top college basketball programs are all vying for Yessoufou, so Coach Pope will have a difficult time winning this war. Kentucky fans should remember the name Yessoufou because Coach Pope wants him to join the already outstanding 2025 class.
5-star Tounde Yessoufou at the Peach Jam with Why Not! @ToundeYessoufou @NikeEYB pic.twitter.com/NcldtjKDva
— Courtside Films (@CourtsideFilms) July 29, 2024
