JOSEPH YESUFU NEWS

Small scores 18, sparks late rally to help West Virginia beat its former coach and Utah 71-69

Javon Small scored 18 points to help West Virginia (17-12, 8-10 Big 12) beat its former coach Josh Eilert and Utah 71-69

MARCH 5

Ausar and Utah host West Virginia

Utah takes on the West Virginia Mountaineers after Ezra Ausar scored 25 points in Utah's 99-73 win against the Arizona State Sun Devils

MARCH 4

Perfect from long range Yesufu provided 16 points (6-6 FG, 4-4 3Pt) and four rebounds over 15 minutes during Sunday's 63-50 win over Cincinnati.

Impact Yesufu drained all four of his three-point attempts, contributing 16 points and four boards in 15 minutes Sunday. He trailed only Javon Small in the scoring column, providing a needed spark off the bench during the win over the Bearcats. It was Yesufu's third double-figure scoring output this season and the second time he's accomplished the feat in conference play.

FEBRUARY 2 • ROTOWIRE

Joseph Yesufu leads No. 21 WVU past Colorado, Mountaineers 2-0 on road in Big 12 play - Dominion Post MORGANTOWN — There will come a time when the winter winds decide to quit blowing and the snow melts into the ground. If the 21st-ranked WVU...

JANUARY 12 • DOMINIONPOST.COM

Pours in 18 off bench Yesufu contributed 18 points (6-9 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 4-5 FT), three rebounds and two steals across 28 minutes during Sunday's 78-70 victory over Colorado.

Impact Yesufu played a season-high 28 minutes, exploding for 18 off the bench. He shot 66.7-percent on nine shots from the floor while going 2-for-3 from downtown in posting his second double-figure scoring performance of the season. The senior guard had scored just 19 points combined across his previous five games.

JANUARY 12 • ROTOWIRE

Jonathan Powell, Joseph Yesufu each make 4 3-pointers, and short-handed West Virginia beats NCCU

Freshman Jonathan Powell scored a season-high 17 points, Joseph Yesufu added 14 points and short-handed West Virginia beat North Carolina Central 79-45 on Tuesday night

DECEMBER 11, 2024

Provides spark off bench Yesufu recorded 14 points (5-8 FG, 4-7 3Pt), five rebounds and one assist over 21 minutes during Tuesday's 79-45 win over North Carolina Central.

Impact Yesufu had not played in the prior two games but took advantage of his extended run Tuesday by connecting on four threes en route to a season-high 14 points. The 14 points represented two more points than he had scored during his previous five appearances this season while the five rebounds also accounted for a season high.

DECEMBER 10, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Limited to reserve role Yesufu has averaged 3.0 points and 1.3 rebounds across 10.8 mpg through four games to begin the 2024-25 season for West Virginia.

Impact The move to West Virginia hasn't improved the outlook for Yesufu, who remains a depth guard option in his sixth collegiate season. He's currently on pace for three-year lows in minutes played and three-point attempts. There were some bumps to be expected, however, as Yesufu still appears to be getting back in the swing of things after last year was cut short by a hip injury after just six games.

NOVEMBER 21, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Cleared as expected Yesufu (hip) has been fully cleared for basketball-related activities, according to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports.

Impact During the summer, Yesufu was expected to be cleared soon, and the expectation has come to fruition. Ideally for him, his fourth program is the charm. Since transferring from Drake, he struggled to find consistency while enrolled at Kansas and luck with Washington State. West Virginia's basketball program took a significant dip last season, so the hope for both sides is that they can help each other bounce back.

SEPTEMBER 4, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Hopes to be cleared soon Yesufu is still rehabbing his hip injury and aims to be medically cleared by the start of school, Blue Gold News reports.

Impact Yesufu's 2023-2024 season was cut short his injury way back in November. The guard had started every game for Washington State prior to the injury. Yesufu, now with West Virginia, will look to get back to full strength and return to his early-career form by the time school rolls around in Morgantown.

JULY 23, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Enters transfer portal Yesufu (hip) entered the NCAA's transfer portal Monday, VerbalCommits.com reports.

Impact According to Greg Woods of The Spokane Spokesman-Review, Yesufu received a medical redshirt for Washington State's 2023-24 season, which he mostly sat out due to a hip injury. But unlike the other part of Woods' statement, Yesufu may not be back with WSU next season if a transfer does go through.

APRIL 1, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Will not return this year Yesufu (hip) is expected to miss the rest of the season, Greg Woods of The Spokane Spokesman-Review reports.

Impact Yesufu played the first six games of the season before going down with a hip injury and has been sidelined ever since. Head coach Kyle Smith said there was no treatment that would've been able to get Yesufu back on the court quickly enough for him to have a realistic shot at returning this season. A graduate transfer, Yesufu will try to apply for a medical redshirt ahead of next season with the hope that he can lace up his shoes for one more go around.

JANUARY 4, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Records five rebounds Yesufu logged five points (2-5 FG, 1-3 3Pt), five rebounds, one assist and one steal across his 23 minutes during Washington State's 84-59 win Monday against Idaho.

Impact On Monday, Yesufu's best accomplishment was the five rebounds, a feat he achieved only once during both his 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. Should the redshirt senior continue to be part of Washington State's starting lineup, he is expected to accomplish more than what fantasy managers would have usually expected from him. After all, Yesufu was never a regular starter during his seasons with Drake and Kansas.

NOVEMBER 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Commits to Washington State Yesufu committed to Washington State on Thursday, per Jonathan Givony of ESPN.com.

Impact Washington State lost its starting backcourt after the NCAA's 2022-23 season. For now, the Cougars seem to believe Yesufu is a reasonable replacement. He averaged 4.1 points and 1.2 rebounds across his 2022-23 season. However, Yesufu was limited under a Kansas team that recently won the NCAA championship and preferred running a similar core to its title-winning squad. He will more receive opportunities while enrolled at Washington State.

APRIL 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Joseph Yesufu becomes 4th Kansas player to enter portal Kansas backup guard Joseph Yesufu entered the transfer portal on Thursday, becoming the fourth Jayhawk to do so this week.

MARCH 23, 2023 • SACBEE.COM

Enters transfer portal Yesufu has entered the NCAA transfer portal, VerbalCommits.com reports.

Impact Yesufu has opted to enter the transfer portal as a graduate student after spending the last two seasons with Kansas. The junior appeared in 35 games this season, averaging 4.1 points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.5 steals on 12.6 minutes per game.

MARCH 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Good run in second-half blowout Yesufu contributed eight points (3-5 FG, 2-4 3Pt), one rebound, two assists and one steal over 14 minutes during Thursday's 96-68 victory over Howard.

Impact Yesufu returned to his role off the bench after starting in place of Kevin McCullar, who has dealt with lingering back spasms recently. The 6-foot junior reserve still played slightly above his season average for minutes (12.7), as the Jayhawks comfortably pulled away near the end of the first half. Yesufu has now averaged 7.0 points and 2.3 rebounds while playing 20.5 minutes over the last four games, including two starts during that stretch. He should continue to serve as the Jayhawks' first option to step into the starting rotation if McCullar is sidelined again moving forward in the NCAA Tournament. With what should be a physical matchup versus Arkansas on Saturday, Yesufu could see additional playing time.

MARCH 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Not part of starting lineup Yesufu is not part of Kansas' starting lineup Thursday against Howard, according to Jordan Guskey of The Topeka Capital-Journal.

Impact Kevin McCullar is available again, thus relegating Yesufu to a substitute again. He logged 18 points and six rebounds across his two games started during McCullar's temporary absence.

MARCH 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Scores 11 during game started Yesufu contributed 11 points (5-11 FG, 1-5 3Pt, 0-2 FT), four rebounds, one assist and one steal across 29 minutes during Saturday's 76-56 loss to Texas.

Impact Yesufu finished the 2023 Big 12 Tournament averaging 6.7 points, an upgrade from 3.7 he averaged across the 2022-23 Jayhawks' regular season. It is unclear what the status of Kevin McCullar (back) will be during March Madness. Suppose the injured senior sits out like he did Saturday, Yesufu is expected to continue receiving a starting role with the reigning NCAA champions.

MARCH 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Returns to bench Yesufu isn't in the starting five for Friday's game versus Iowa State, Jordan Guskey of The Topeka Capital-Journal reports.

Impact Kevin McCullar will replace Yesufu in the starting lineup Friday. The junior guard has come off the bench in all but two games this season.

MARCH 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Part of starting lineup Yesufu is part of Kansas' starting lineup Thursday against West Virginia, according to Jordan Guskey of The Topeka Capital-Journal.

Impact Kevin McCullar (back) may not be fully fit Thursday, so Yesufu will take his spot in the Jayhawks' starting lineup Thursday. Across his only other start as part of their team, he logged 14 points and three assists across 30 minutes against Texas Southern on Nov. 28.

MARCH 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Plays 10 minutes Yesufu finished Saturday's 76-74 victory over West Virginia with three points (1-5 FG, 1-3 3Pt) and one rebound in 10 minutes.

Impact According to Nathan Swaffar of 247Sports.com, Yesufu had been recovering from an illness, which did not prevent him from logging a double-digit tally of minutes Saturday. It seemed like a regular day for the junior, who continues to serve as a substitute for the talented backcourt of Dajuan Harris and Kevin McCullar.

FEBRUARY 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Second-leading scorer in loss Yesufu amassed eight points (3-6 FG, 2-5 3Pt), one rebound and one steal across 19 minutes during Saturday's 68-53 loss to Iowa State.

Impact Yesufu saw a slight increase in playing time during this blowout loss at the hands of the Cyclones' stifling defense. As a result, the 6-foot reserve finished with the Jayhawks' second-most points, as leading scorer Jalen Wilson (26) was the only Kansas starter to log more than seven points. Yesufu has now averaged 3.3 points and 1.0 rebounds while playing 11.8 minutes across 21 contests this season. Barring injury in the team's starting backcourt, expect Yesufu to continue serving an extremely limited role moving forward.

FEBRUARY 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Logs 16 minutes in return Yesufu (hamstring) recorded two points (1-3 FG, 0-2 3Pt), two rebounds and a steal across 16 minutes off the bench in Saturday's win at West Virginia.

Impact Yesufu returned to action following a one-game absence, and he has logged double-digit minutes in each of his last two outings. The production just hasn't been there, though, as Yesufu has not scored in double digits since he posted 14 points in a Nov. 28 win over Texas Southern.

JANUARY 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Going through warmups Saturday Yesufu (hamstring) is warming up ahead of Saturday's game versus West Virginia, Jordan Guskey of The Topeka Capital-Journal reports.

Impact Yesufu sat out the Jan. 3 win versus Texas Tech due to a tweaked hamstring. While the exact timeline for his return is still unclear, coach Bill Self said he doesn't expect him to sit out for too long, so it wouldn't be surprising if he begins to work his way Saturday against the Mountaineers. If Yesufu does remain out, then Bobby Pettiford should continue to see increased usage behind starting guards Dajuan Harris and Gradey Dick.

JANUARY 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE