St. John’s massive NIL payment revealed after Tounde Yessoufou chooses transfer portal over NBA Draft

Key Points:

• St. John’s men’s basketball, under head coach Rick Pitino, is building a strong program with recent successes including back-to-back Big East tournament championships and deep NCAA tournament runs.
• Baylor freshman Tounde Yessoufou, initially projected for the 2026 NBA Draft, withdrew to transfer to St. John’s, reportedly receiving upwards of $7 million, making him one of the highest-paid college basketball players ever.
• Yessoufou, known for his physicality and scoring ability despite limited three-point shooting and playmaking, fills a critical defensive and scoring role for St. John’s as they aim for a Final Four appearance.
• St. John’s roster also features talented players like EuroLeague guard Quinn Ellis, returning McDonald’s All-American Ian Jackson, and Syracuse transfer Donnie Freeman, providing a balanced mix of playmaking, shooting, and defense.
• The center position remains uncertain, but promising players like 6’11” Ruben Prey offer potential, highlighting the program’s depth as it leverages significant financial resources to compete with the NBA for top talent.