UCLA Linked to Former 5-Star Recruit in College Basketball Transfer Portal
For the second straight season, the UCLA Bruins' season ended with a second-round loss in the NCAA Tournament. Entering March Madness as the East Region's No. 7 seed, their run at a national championship was cut short after losing to the No. 2 UConn Huskies. However, it was still a solid season for the Bruins, going 24-12 and 13-7 in Big Ten matchups.
Once the season concluded, head coach Mick Cronin and his staff attacked the transfer portal. So far, UCLA has already landed four commitments compared to two losses. The group ranks second in the Big Ten and fourth in the nation.
However, with a handful of talent still available, Cronin is continuing to search for more additions. On3's Joe Tipton reports that UCLA is one team linked to former Baylor Bears guard Tounde Yessoufou.
"A school gaining early momentum for Yessoufou is UCLA, sources tell On3," Tipton wrote. "However, he will likely draw interest from many other top programs."
Yessoufou is coming off a great freshman season with Baylor, starting all 34 games. He averaged 17.8 points (second on the team), 5.9 rebounds (led the team) and 1.6 assists per game while shooting 46.5% from the field and 29.3% from the three-point line.
The freshman's performance on the court led him to earn an All-Big 12 honorable mention. He lived up to expectations after coming out of high school in the 2025 cycle as a five-star recruit and the No. 14 player in the nation, per Rivals Industry Rankings.
Yessoufou did declare for the 2026 NBA Draft on April 10. However, Tipton notes that college teams can compete financially with the NBA due to "how lucrative NIL has gotten in the sport."
If UCLA can bring Yessoufou, he would be a major addition to upgrading the roster. He would also be the third guard the Bruins bring in through the portal, joining Azavier Robinson (Butler Bulldogs) and Jaylen Petty (Texas Tech Red Raiders).
Related: UConn Connected to Award-Winning Center in College Basketball Transfer Portal
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This story was originally published April 22, 2026 at 8:18 AM.