NCS Senior of the Year
TEMIDAYO YUSSUF, F, ST. JOSEPH NOTRE DAME
Temidayo Yussuf, with one uncle who is 6-foot-9 and another 6-4, was bound to be on the long side.
Yussuf was 6-1 by the eighth grade and has grown to 6-7 by his senior year. He wears size 17 sneakers.
Yussuf used that height and his ability to lead St. Joseph Notre Dame to the CIF-State Division V state title. He averaged
18 points and 16 rebounds per game and was a first team, All-TCAL-Rock pick.
"It was amazing," Yussuf said of winning the state title game. "We wanted another shot at state after losing last year. We were
all tuned in and got redemption. It's nice to go out with a bang."
For his efforts, Yussuf is the Prep2Prep North Coast Section Senior of the Year.
Yussuf is a Nigerian-American who was born in Hayward and lives in Oakland. His father Titi and mother Kehinde are only 5-10 but
obviously the potential for great height was in his genes. He played soccer as a young boy but switched to basketball early on at
the urging of the father of one his dad's co-workers at the Alameda County Sheriff's Office.
He joined the high-level Oakland Rebels and didn't excel at first.
"I didn't get much playing time and I was just doing it for fun, but in eighth grade I started working out seriously," Yussuf said.
"I was awkward at first but I got better."
Yussuf said the program at St. Joe's is "amazing."
"We have a winning history and we're not used to losing that often," Yussuf said. "We've had players like Calvin Byrd and Jason Kidd
and a lot of great coaches - not just (Don) Lippi but others before him. We don't just try to make the playoffs or go .500 - we're
looking to win state championships."
Yussuf has a 3.0 grade point average and has earned a basketball scholarship to Long Beach State.
"I'd like to make the NBA and I know I have to stay positive and work on my game," Yussuf said. "If not, maybe I can play in Europe."
Also considered: Drew Anderson, F, Miramonte; Josh Broughton, G, Novato; Isaiah Ali, G, Tennyson; Waymond McKissick, F, Kennedy-Fremont;
Joey Frenchwood, G, Newark Memorial; Spencer Rust, C, Monte Vista.
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