Rick Pitino's Late-Night Dinner Smile Means St. John's Is Coming For The Top 10, And The League Noticed

Alright, you gotta hear this. You know when you see a coach smiling, and you just *know* there's something cooking beyond a good meal? That's exactly what went down with Rick Pitino this week. While he was out at Rao's, enjoying some Italian food, the man was probably already cracking up because he knew he was about to land a HUGE commitment. News broke just hours after his smiling photo hit social media: Tounde Yessoufou, a legitimate 2025 McDonald's All-American, pulled his name from the 2026 NBA Draft and committed to the Red Storm! This isn't just a signing, folks. This move just shot St. John's all the way up to No. 11 in Version 16 of the CBS Sports Top 25 And 1. Seriously, if you weren't paying attention before, you better start now!

From Draft Prospect to Red Storm Powerhouse

Let's talk about Tounde Yessoufou for a second, because this kid is the real deal. Before he even got to Baylor, where he averaged 17.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.6 assists last season, he was already California high school basketball's all-time leading scorer. That's not small potatoes! He was on the fringe of being a first-round prospect in the 2026 NBA Draft, so for him to choose college and St. John's? That's a massive statement. Pitino wasn't holding back his excitement, either. He tweeted, "Super-excited for the addition of Tounde. We will add one more scholarship player in the next 24 hours and [then] our roster will be complete. Couldn't be more fired up for this upcoming season." You can practically hear the mic drop from here. This guy is going to be a game-changer, no doubt about it.

Who's At The Top, And Who's Sliding?

So, with St. John's making waves, who else is rocking the college hoops world right now? Florida is still sitting pretty at No. 1. They're projected to bring back six of their top seven scorers, including Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon, Boogie Fland, Rueben Chinyelu, Urban Klavzar, and Isaiah Brown. That's a crew from a team that dominated the SEC by three games, snagged a No. 1 seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, and finished 27-8 on the season. Those Gators are looking stout. On the flip side, we've got Arkansas, who took a bit of a hit. They're down to No. 12 in the rankings after Maleek Thomas decided to stay in the draft. That means they're only returning one of their top eight scorers, Billy Richmond III, to pair with their second-ranked recruiting class. That's a tough break. Elsewhere, Duke is looking strong at No. 2, bringing back four of their top six scorers from a 35-3 team that hit the Elite Eight. And don't forget Michigan at No. 3, who are returning two of their top five scorers from a squad that won the 2026 NCAA Tournament with a 37-3 record. The top of the polls is stacked, but St. John's is officially in the conversation. Pitino's got one more scholarship spot to fill, and then this roster is set for the season. With Yessoufou on board and that final piece coming, this St. John's team is ready to surprise some folks and climb even higher. It's going to be wild to watch them try to break into that top ten. You won't want to miss what happens next!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.