Player Profile: Daeshun Ruffin 

Senior guard Daeshun Ruffin started out this season at Jackson State with some serious heat, leading the Tigers with 17.0 points per game through their first three contests. Ruffin is now tied for the team lead in total points (60) with teammate Dorian McMillian, leads JSU in field goals made (13), and ranks first in free throws made (5). He’s also tied for the team lead in three-pointers (4) alongside McMillian and Layme Mitchell Jr.

Redshirting his junior season at JSU, Ruffin made quite the impression last year, earning a spot on the All-Tournament Team at the conclusion of the SWAC Championship Tournament. He scored in double figures 20 times, including a 13-game streak from December 28 (Cal Baptist) to February 15 (Florida A&M), and notched eight 20-plus-point performances, highlighted by a career-high 37 points vs. Bethune-Cookman.

Before joining Jackson State, Ruffin played at Ole Miss during the 2022–23 season. In 11 appearances (two starts) for Ole Miss, he averaged 9.5 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in 18.3 minutes per game. Ruffin posted double figures six times, including 17 points and four assists vs. Temple, a season-high 18 points and seven assists vs. Missouri, and a near double-double with 17 points and 8 assists vs. Mississippi State.

A former SEC Freshman of the Week (Jan. 31, 2022), Ruffin went on a hot streak that included a 21-point performance vs. Florida. His 2022 campaign was cut short by a knee injury suffered during a 19-point outing in an upset win over No. 25 LSU.

But, like any champion, Ruffin’s knee injury wasn’t the end of his story. You can follow along as he crushes JSU’s competition this season here.

Author administrator Corinne Ellington