:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69072381/usa_today_15684150.0.jpg)
The Wisconsin Badgers men’s basketball team has already been active in the transfer portal this offseason, gaining former UNLV wing Isaac Lindsey as a preferred walk-on and losing four players who are looking for chances elsewhere. On Saturday afternoon, it was announced that former Drake guard Joseph Yesufu had heard from Greg Gard and the Badgers.
Just heard from Drake transfer Joseph Yesufu (@_liljoe1). He told me USC, Kansas, Wisconsin and Nebraska have also now reached out, in addition to Arizona State and Minnesota
— Matthew Bain (@MatthewBain_) April 3, 2021
One of the best pure scorers I’ve watched in college. USC saw that first-hand in the NCAA Tournament. https://t.co/OHVOvUN3Yn
Arizona State, Minnesota, Southern Cal, Nebraska and Kansas have also reached out according to Matthew Bain of the Des Moines Register. Yesufu announed that he would be entering the transfer portal on Thursday afternoon and, as you can see, he has already attracted a lot of attention.
God got me... pic.twitter.com/kHJsRQSFd9
— Joe Yesufu (@_liljoe1) April 1, 2021
This past season, Yesufu helped lead Drake to a 26-5 record and a win over Wichita State in the First Four of the NCAA Tournament. In two Tournament games, Yesufu scored 21 points against the Shockers and 26 points in a loss to Southern Cal. He shot 9-of-20 from deep in the two games.
On the year, the 6-foot guard out of Bolingbrook, Ill. scored 12.8 ppg (44.2% from the field, 38.4% from three and 81.2 from the charity stripe), had 1.8 rpg, 1.8 apg and 1.1 spg. He was a high usage player for the Bulldogs and only had a turnover percentage of 11.5 which was good for No. 163 in the country. Over his last nine games of the season he scored in double digits each time (averaging 23.2 ppg), including twice scoring over 30 points.
He was named Missouri Valley Conference Sixth Man of the Year in 2020-2021 and was chosen to be a part of the All-Bench, Most-improved, Scholar-Athlete and MVC All-Tournament teams.
With only one guard (Jonathan Davis) for sure returning to the Badgers next year, having a veteran ball handler like Yesufu would help bridge the gap until freshmen Lorne Bowman and Chucky Hepburn are ready to take on a larger load of the play-making.