St. John's University Athletics
2017-18 Men's Basketball Roster
Yakwe, Kassoum
Open Practice Press Conference 8.5.2025
Tuesday, August 05
St. John's Basketball Adidas Launch Media Availability7.16.25
Wednesday, July 16
Coach Pitino Press Conference Yankee Stadium 6.4.2025
Wednesday, June 04
Rick Pitino: 2024-25 Coach of the Year in Review
Friday, May 09
Jersey Number 14
Kassoum Yakwe
- Height:
- 6-7
- Weight:
- 210
- Class:
- Junior
- Position:
- Forward
- Hometown:
- Bamako, Mali
- High School:
- Our Savior New American (N.Y.
Bio
As a Junior (2017-18)
Played in 24 games and made one start for the Red Storm… averaged 2.2 points and 2.1 rebounds in 11.8 minutes per game… shot 45.7 percent from the field and 71.4 percent from the free-throw line… ranked third on the team with 19 blocks… scored a season-high eight points in the Johnnies’ win over Oregon State at The AdvoCare Invitational in Orlando (Nov. 23)… grabbed a season-best seven boards against Providence (Dec. 28)… had seven points and three blocks against DePaul (Jan. 6).
2016-17
Ranked second on the team, second in the BIG EAST and 45th in the NCAA in blocks with 1.94 per game... finished the season with 64 rejections, good enough for 10th on the St. John's single-season record list... averaged 4.2 points and 3.2 boards per game in 33 appearances, 31 of which were starts... tallied seven points and three boards in his season debut against Bethune-Cookman (Nov. 11)... grabbed four rebounds and recorded five blocks against Binghamton (Nov. 14)... had four points, four rebounds and blocked four shots against Michigan State (Nov. 23)... swatted a season-high six shots and grabbed five rebounds against VCU (Nov. 24)... tied a career-high with seven rejections against Delaware State (Nov. 29)... tallied eight points, seven boards and three assists against Penn State (Dec. 18)... scored seven points and grabbed eight rebounds at Syracuse (Dec. 21)... made all three of his shot attempts and swatted two shots in the Red Storm's upset victory over No. 13 Butler (Dec. 29)... had seven points and three blocks at Georgetown (Jan. 9)... had a breakout performance against Marquette, finishing with 14 points, six boards and three blocks in 28 minutes (Feb. 1)... tallied eight points and three blocks against Seton Hall (Feb. 11)... recorded seven points, five boards and three blocks at Marquette (Feb. 21)... registered seven points and three blocks at Creighton (Feb. 28).
2015-2016
BIG EAST All-Freshman Team selection … made 26 appearances, including 16 starts … led the BIG EAST with 66 blocks, tying for the seventh-most in program history … averaged 7.1 points and 5.3 rebounds … ranked 16th in Division I with 2.5 blocks per game … scored double-figures seven times and recorded two double-doubles … led the team in rebounding nine times and in blocks in 14 games … named to the BIG EAST Honor Roll on Feb. 22 after averaging 13.5 points, 13.0 rebounds and 4.0 blocks against DePaul (Feb. 17) and Seton Hall (Feb. 21) … swatted five or more shots in four games … notched seven blocks versus Marquette (Jan. 24), the most in the BIG EAST and seventh highest total for a single game in program history … started 15 of 18 BIG EAST games … averaged 7.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.8 blocks in conference play … recorded 15 points in a win over Syracuse (Dec. 13) at Madison Square Garden … had five double-digit scoring performances against BIG EAST competition … registered back-to-back double-doubles posting 11 points, 11 rebounds versus DePaul (Feb. 17) and season-highs 16 points, 15 rebounds against Seton Hall (Feb. 21).
Before St. John’s
A four-star, top-100 prospect who graduated in 2015 from Our Savior New American in Centereach, N.Y. … averaged approximately 10 points and five rebounds per game as a senior … played alongside 2016 NBA draft pick Cheick Diallo, and current NCAA Division I players Damon Wilson (Pittsburgh) and Davon Dillard (Oklahoma State) at OSNA … member of AAU team PSA Cardinals for head coach Terrance Williams … named the 2015 Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) Regular Season Defensive Player of the Year after averaging 3.1 blocks and 6.3 rebounds over 15 games … received All-Tournament Second Team honors at the EYBL Peach Jam … averaged 9.2 points shooting 67.9 percent, 11.4 rebounds and 5.0 blocks in five games at the Peach Jam … selected to the five-member 2015 SLAM Summer All-American Team.
Personal
Kassoum Yakwe … born in Bandiagara, a small town in the Mopti region of Mali … son of Youssouff Yakwe and Eveline Arama … has two sisters, Aichata and Bintou, and two brothers, Paul and Laya ... majoring in sport management.
Kassoum Yakwe Profile
Favorite athlete: LeBron James
Favorite ice cream: Vanilla
Favorite professional team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Favorite actor: Jet Li
Favorite candy: Snickers
Played in 24 games and made one start for the Red Storm… averaged 2.2 points and 2.1 rebounds in 11.8 minutes per game… shot 45.7 percent from the field and 71.4 percent from the free-throw line… ranked third on the team with 19 blocks… scored a season-high eight points in the Johnnies’ win over Oregon State at The AdvoCare Invitational in Orlando (Nov. 23)… grabbed a season-best seven boards against Providence (Dec. 28)… had seven points and three blocks against DePaul (Jan. 6).
2016-17
Ranked second on the team, second in the BIG EAST and 45th in the NCAA in blocks with 1.94 per game... finished the season with 64 rejections, good enough for 10th on the St. John's single-season record list... averaged 4.2 points and 3.2 boards per game in 33 appearances, 31 of which were starts... tallied seven points and three boards in his season debut against Bethune-Cookman (Nov. 11)... grabbed four rebounds and recorded five blocks against Binghamton (Nov. 14)... had four points, four rebounds and blocked four shots against Michigan State (Nov. 23)... swatted a season-high six shots and grabbed five rebounds against VCU (Nov. 24)... tied a career-high with seven rejections against Delaware State (Nov. 29)... tallied eight points, seven boards and three assists against Penn State (Dec. 18)... scored seven points and grabbed eight rebounds at Syracuse (Dec. 21)... made all three of his shot attempts and swatted two shots in the Red Storm's upset victory over No. 13 Butler (Dec. 29)... had seven points and three blocks at Georgetown (Jan. 9)... had a breakout performance against Marquette, finishing with 14 points, six boards and three blocks in 28 minutes (Feb. 1)... tallied eight points and three blocks against Seton Hall (Feb. 11)... recorded seven points, five boards and three blocks at Marquette (Feb. 21)... registered seven points and three blocks at Creighton (Feb. 28).
2015-2016
BIG EAST All-Freshman Team selection … made 26 appearances, including 16 starts … led the BIG EAST with 66 blocks, tying for the seventh-most in program history … averaged 7.1 points and 5.3 rebounds … ranked 16th in Division I with 2.5 blocks per game … scored double-figures seven times and recorded two double-doubles … led the team in rebounding nine times and in blocks in 14 games … named to the BIG EAST Honor Roll on Feb. 22 after averaging 13.5 points, 13.0 rebounds and 4.0 blocks against DePaul (Feb. 17) and Seton Hall (Feb. 21) … swatted five or more shots in four games … notched seven blocks versus Marquette (Jan. 24), the most in the BIG EAST and seventh highest total for a single game in program history … started 15 of 18 BIG EAST games … averaged 7.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.8 blocks in conference play … recorded 15 points in a win over Syracuse (Dec. 13) at Madison Square Garden … had five double-digit scoring performances against BIG EAST competition … registered back-to-back double-doubles posting 11 points, 11 rebounds versus DePaul (Feb. 17) and season-highs 16 points, 15 rebounds against Seton Hall (Feb. 21).
Before St. John’s
A four-star, top-100 prospect who graduated in 2015 from Our Savior New American in Centereach, N.Y. … averaged approximately 10 points and five rebounds per game as a senior … played alongside 2016 NBA draft pick Cheick Diallo, and current NCAA Division I players Damon Wilson (Pittsburgh) and Davon Dillard (Oklahoma State) at OSNA … member of AAU team PSA Cardinals for head coach Terrance Williams … named the 2015 Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) Regular Season Defensive Player of the Year after averaging 3.1 blocks and 6.3 rebounds over 15 games … received All-Tournament Second Team honors at the EYBL Peach Jam … averaged 9.2 points shooting 67.9 percent, 11.4 rebounds and 5.0 blocks in five games at the Peach Jam … selected to the five-member 2015 SLAM Summer All-American Team.
Personal
Kassoum Yakwe … born in Bandiagara, a small town in the Mopti region of Mali … son of Youssouff Yakwe and Eveline Arama … has two sisters, Aichata and Bintou, and two brothers, Paul and Laya ... majoring in sport management.
Kassoum Yakwe Profile
Favorite athlete: LeBron James
Favorite ice cream: Vanilla
Favorite professional team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Favorite actor: Jet Li
Favorite candy: Snickers
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