MBB’s Yessoufou Posts Co-Big 12 Player and Newcomer of the Week Honors
3/9/2026 2:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Freshman shares the award in the final week of the regular season
IRVING, Texas – Baylor men's basketball freshman standout Tounde Yessoufou capped off the 2025-26 regular season awards by earning Co-Big 12 Player of the Week and Co-Newcomer of the Week, the conference announced on Monday afternoon.
The freshman shares the titles with Colorado's Isaiah Johnson. Yessoufou averaged 23.0 points and 8.5 rebounds while adding a Conference-leading 4.0 steals over the week.
At then-No. 7 Houston, the freshman from Benin had his first career double-double with 20 points and a career-high 12 rebounds. In the 101-75 win over Utah, the guard had 26 points and a tie for career-best of six steals as head coach Scott Drew picked up his 500th career win.
It is Yessoufou's second Newcomer of the Week honor and his first Player of the Week honor of the season.
Yessoufou has rewrote the record books for Baylor, breaking the all-time freshman points (557) field goals made (207) and field goals attempted (438) records. He is five steals away from breaking the freshman steals record with 64, looking to surpass VJ Edgecombe's record.
The Cotonou, Benin, native ranks second in the Big 12 in steals with 64 total and third in the Big 12 in steals per game, averaging 2.1.
Yessoufou and the Bears kick off the Big 12 Tournament on Tuesday at 11:30 am CT at the T-Mobile Center against 12th-seeded Arizona State.
BIG 12 STARTING FIVE – MARCH 9
Tounde Yessoufou, Baylor (co-player, co-newcomer)
AJ Dybantsa, BYU
Rob Wright, BYU
Isaiah Johnson, Colorado (co-player, co-newcomer)
Tre White, Kansas
2025-26 YESSOUFOU HONORS
Preseason Julius Erving Watch List
Midseason Julius Erving Watch List
Big 12 Newcomer of the Week - Dec. 8
Big 12 Starting Five - Dec. 22
Big 12 Starting Five - Dec. 30
Big 12 Starting Five - Feb. 16
Big 12 Co-Player of the Week – March 9
Big 12 Co-Newcomer of the Week – March 9
- BaylorBears.com -
The freshman shares the titles with Colorado's Isaiah Johnson. Yessoufou averaged 23.0 points and 8.5 rebounds while adding a Conference-leading 4.0 steals over the week.
At then-No. 7 Houston, the freshman from Benin had his first career double-double with 20 points and a career-high 12 rebounds. In the 101-75 win over Utah, the guard had 26 points and a tie for career-best of six steals as head coach Scott Drew picked up his 500th career win.
It is Yessoufou's second Newcomer of the Week honor and his first Player of the Week honor of the season.
Yessoufou has rewrote the record books for Baylor, breaking the all-time freshman points (557) field goals made (207) and field goals attempted (438) records. He is five steals away from breaking the freshman steals record with 64, looking to surpass VJ Edgecombe's record.
The Cotonou, Benin, native ranks second in the Big 12 in steals with 64 total and third in the Big 12 in steals per game, averaging 2.1.
Yessoufou and the Bears kick off the Big 12 Tournament on Tuesday at 11:30 am CT at the T-Mobile Center against 12th-seeded Arizona State.
BIG 12 STARTING FIVE – MARCH 9
Tounde Yessoufou, Baylor (co-player, co-newcomer)
AJ Dybantsa, BYU
Rob Wright, BYU
Isaiah Johnson, Colorado (co-player, co-newcomer)
Tre White, Kansas
2025-26 YESSOUFOU HONORS
Preseason Julius Erving Watch List
Midseason Julius Erving Watch List
Big 12 Newcomer of the Week - Dec. 8
Big 12 Starting Five - Dec. 22
Big 12 Starting Five - Dec. 30
Big 12 Starting Five - Feb. 16
Big 12 Co-Player of the Week – March 9
Big 12 Co-Newcomer of the Week – March 9
- BaylorBears.com -
Players Mentioned
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