Kansas basketball: Drake transfer Joseph Yesufu has golden experience

Joseph Yesufu made his way onto the Kansas basketball roster back in April, after making contributions as a starter for the Drake Bulldogs late during the 2020-21 season.

Big 12 neighbor Texas was eyeing the talented point guard, but Yesufu was taken by how head coach Bill Self runs his program, according to 247 Sports.

Kansas will be a new stage for Yesufu, allowing him to market himself at a higher level and develop his skill along the way. Competing in a new conference has its challenges, but this is a player that has faced adversity before.

Stepping up following an unexpected injury to Bulldogs’ starting point guard Roman Penn, Yesufu found himself at the helm of Drake’s offense and began chasing a new direction in his college career. He would earn his first start in February, posting a season-high scoring record of 36 points against Evansville.

Before he transitioned to the starting five, Yesufu was finding decent minutes off the bench. The change of pace may not have been expected, but it came with good timing. Drake would push forward under Yesufu’s leadership, as the sophomore transfer would average 10+ points through the postseason.

Despite a tough first-round loss to USC, Yesufu put up a solid 26 point game, going 6 of 11 from the perimeter. He became progressively confident from the three-point line during the bottom half of Drake’s 2020-21 schedule and may continue to sharpen his shot at Kansas.

Surging into the NCAA Tournament, Drake would score a first-four win against Wichita State. Yesufu would throw down one of the tournament’s cleanest dunks against the Shockers.

Yesufu will be paired with high-profile Arizona State transfer Remy Martin at the point guard position, giving Kansas a decent duo of talented players to take on leadership roles on and off the court. How minutes will be divided remains to be unknown, however, we’ll likely see decent minutes for these two during the opening weeks of the schedule.

Regardless, Joseph Yesufu was a strong offseason pickup for Coach Self. He brings admirable experience, which may help him serve as a leader this coming season. Only time will tell, but his career should flourish at Kansas.