AP FILE PHOTO - Drake’s Joseph Yesufu (1) drives to the basket as Missouri State’s Keaton Hervey (14) defends during the first half of their game in the semifinal round of the Missouri Valley Conference men’s basketball tournament on March 6 in St. Louis.

The Drake men’s basketball team’s best player down the stretch is heading down the road.

Bulldog sophomore Joseph Yesufu, a 6-foot guard from Bolingbrook, Ill., announced Tuesday through his social media that he had emerged from the transfer portal by committing to the University of Kansas.

“Can’t wait to be part of this special program so we can make the fans proud! Go Jayhawks!” Yesufu posted on Twitter.

Yesufu, named the Missouri Valley Conference’s Sixth Man of the Year, carried the beat-up Bulldogs on his back over the final month of the season.

Yesufu averaged 22.4 points over Drake’s final seven games, earning MVC All-Tournament Team honors before being the Bulldogs leading scorer in both NCAA Tournament games. He scored at least 20 points in seven of Drake’s last nine games, stepping in as a starter to replace injured guard Roman Penn for the final seven.

He scored a team-leading 21 points in its NCAA Tournament opener, a 53-52 victory over Wichita State in their First Four showdown, and added 26 points in the Bulldogs’ 72-56 loss to USC.

In 31 games played this winter, Yesufu shot 44.2 percent from the field, 38.4 percent from 3-point range and 81.2 percent from the free-throw line for the 26-5 Bulldogs.

“First, I would like to start off by giving all the glory to God because he has truly been blessing me my entire life,” Yesufu wrote. “I would like to thank all of the coaches that have recruited me throughout this process. I would also like to thank my family and loved ones for supporting me and helping me through this tough process.

“I will also like to express my gratitude for the Drake Men’s Basketball program and the entire Drake community for making me a better player, but more importantly, a better person.”

Yesufu entered the transfer portal last Thursday and told the Kansas City Star he spoke to Kansas head coach Bill Self on Friday. He will have three years of eligibility remaining with the Jayhawks.