Prospect Spotlight: Joseph Yesufu – (2019)
PG- Joseph Yesufu 5’10 (2019) Meanstreets
2019 Bolingbrook PG Joseph Yesufu is a compact shifty lead guard who the Prep Hoops Illinois staff had the opportunity to see several times this spring as well as during the high school season where he helped lead Bolingbrook High School to a third-place finish in class 4A.
Yesufu is a strong point guard who has good handles and vision out in the open court. His strengths on offense are his ability to run the offense, and get his team into their sets from the point guard position where he makes good decisions. He can handle pressure and break the press. He is a tremendous athlete at 5’10 he often uses his quickness to blow by defenders and get to the lane where he can finish at the rim or kick out to open shooters. Yesufu can even go up and finish above the rim and throw it down off the bounce. He is a threat offensively off the dribble both at the basket and from mid-range. His outside shot can be streaky and he needs to show more consistency from deep but has shown he can hit when left open. Defensively he has the potential to be a good defender he sits in a good stance and moves his feet well, is quick and athletic and can play the passing lanes often getting steals. He can high point rebounds from the guard spot as well. Like on offense he needs to show overall consistency at both ends to take the next step in his development. There is no doubt however that the young prospect has D1 potential.
I caught up with the PG who is running with the Nike Meanstreets to talk summer ball, high school season and a little recruiting.
How do you think your Sophomore season at Bolingbrook went?
“I feel we could have finished better at the end, we ran up against a tough Simeon team down state. Overall I felt the season was great, I learned a lot from the guys, at practice they went hard on me and it got me here now as a better player.”
What are some areas of your game that you feel you improved on from your freshman to sophomore year?
“My shooting, my trainer has really worked on that with me and my overall basketball IQ it has really improved from last year”
Now that the grassroots season is underway what are some things you want to focus on this summer?
“Being a leader on the team, running the show from the point guard spot and setting up my teammates from the point guard position just being a true PG.”
You have been really active this spring/summer on the defensive end has that also been a focal point for you?
“My main focus is defense to get the offense going we have to set the tone on defense and get stops to get out on the break because that’s how we score a lot from out on the break.”
Heading into your upcoming junior year what’s going on with recruiting?
“A lot of schools have been looking at me but I’m looking forward to having a great summer and having some interest come this summer.”