The 2026 NBA Draft withdrawal deadline passed at midnight with several players deciding to return to school. Two of the most anticipated weren’t announced until after the deadline, with Tounde Yessoufou deciding to return to college. At the same time, Arkansas’ Meleek Thomas will remain in the NBA draft, per Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress.
NEWS: Arkansas’ Meleek Thomas kept his name in the 2026 NBA Draft at the NCAA withdrawal deadline, a source told DraftExpress.
The 6’4, 19-year-old guard made the SEC All-Rookie team, averaging 15.6 PPG on 42% from 3 in 31 MPG. pic.twitter.com/pS4vOCCjzQ
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 28, 2026
What Does Tounde Yessoufou’s Arrival In NYC Mean For St. John’s
Yessoufou, who was considered a borderline first-round pick, committed to the St. John’s Red Storm after withdrawing from the draft per Shams Charania of ESPN.
Baylor’s Tounde Yessoufou — a potential first-round pick — has withdrawn from the 2026 NBA draft and committed to St. John’s Red Storm men’s basketball program to play for Rick Pitino, his agency THE TEAM tells ESPN.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 28, 2026
Yessoufou demonstrated why he was one of the most highly touted high school prospects in 2025 as a freshman at Baylor. Yessou, the consensus No. 11 recruit in 2025, averaged 17.8 points on 46.5% shooting from the field and 1.6 threes at a 29.3% clip. The 6-5 guard added 5.9 rebounds and 2.0 steals. He produced one double-double and scored in double-figures on 32 occassions, topping the 20-point mark 12 times, including tallying a career high 37 against BYU on February 10.
Baylor went 17-17 this past season, though the Bears were only 6-12 in the Big 12 and missed the NCAA Tournament. It marked the first time the Bears had sat out the Tournament since 2018 and only the seventh time they had failed to win 20 games under Scott Drew.
Yessoufou is the Bears’ third transfer loss this year. However, Yessoufou is the only Bear to have found a landing spot; the other players in the transfer portal, James Nnaji and Daniel Skillings Jr., have yet to do so.
How Does Tounde Yessoufou Fit With Red Storm
Yessoufou is the centerpiece for Rick Pitino‘s 2026 recruiting class. Yessoufou gives the Red Storm a true scoring wing they were missing. He is the Red Storm’s fourth transfer and gives the Red Storm one of the most athletic backcourts, alongside Ian Jackson and freshman Quinn Ellis.
Yessoufou is a perfect fit for Pittino’s up-tempo, high-pressure defensive style due to his strength, lateral quickness, and ability to be disruptive on defense. He is also a versatile defender, capable of guarding 1-4.
ESPN’s Jeff Borzello is one of several analysts who are very high on Yessoufou’s addition. The Red Storm followed its record-setting 2024-25 season with another 30-victory campaign this past season and the program’s 10th trip to the Sweet 16. Pitino has brought in nine newcomers and has 14 players on the roster.
Massive news for Rick Pitino and St. John’s. The Red Storm had a glaring need for a wing scorer, and they landed a true bucket-getter in Tounde Yessoufou.
Quinn Ellis
Ian Jackson
Tounde Yessoufou
Donnie Freeman
Ruben PreyReally, really intriguing lineup in Queens next season. https://t.co/XBLreLFpVM
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) May 28, 2026
Kentucky Predicted As Landing Spot for Milan Momcilovic
Despite having 14 players on the roster, CBS Sports Jon Rothstein said St. John’s was still in the mix for Iowa State transfer Milan Momcilovic. Momcilovic, who led the NCAA in 3-pointers made (136) and 3-point percentage (48.7%), also withdrew from the NBA draft yesterday. Kentucky, Louisville, and Arizona are the other teams reportedly in the mix.
CBS Sports Matt Norlander, talking on the Eye On College Basketball podcast, believes that Momcilovic will ultimately choose Kentucky.
“My prediction right now is that Milan Momcilovic will go to Kentucky,” Norlander said. “My understanding is that the decision is going to come in the next one, two, three days, four days max.”
“My forecast is that it’s Kentucky, but you know, we’ll see if Louisville can get in there,” Norlander continued. “Arizona I don’t think has the money to contend, like I think Kentucky and Louisville just have more money to play with.”
We are live! https://t.co/KxufA2Ulzx
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) May 28, 2026
Kentucky is coming off a disappointing 22-14 record, including a seventh-place finish in the SEC at 10-8. The Wildcats are 46-26 in head coach Mark Pope‘s first two seasons. The Wildcats, who have not been to the Final Four since 2015, are 19-24 against quality opponents. They have 11 players on the roster for the upcoming season.
Louisville has turned things around under third-year coach Pat Kelsey. The Cardinals are 51-19 over the last two seasons, though they have been eliminated in the first week of the NCAA Tournament in both seasons. The Cardinals are 13-16 against quality opponents. They have 12 players for the upcoming season.
Arizona has been one of the best teams in the nation since Tommy Lloyd took over the program in 2021, posting a 148-36 record. The Wildcats have won three conference regular-season and three conference tournament crowns along with a Final Four appearance. They have 13 players on next year’s roster, though Koa Peat decided to remain in the NBA Draft.
Photo credit: William Purnell, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
