Daeshun Ruffin

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Daeshun Ruffin

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| number = 24

| position = Point guard

| height_ft = 5

| height_in = 9

| weight_lbs = 160

| league = Southwestern Athletic Conference

| team = Jackson State Tigers

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2003|3|26}}

| birth_place =

| high_school = Callaway
(Jackson, Mississippi)

| college = Ole Miss (2021–2023)
Jackson State (2023–present)

| highlights =

McDonald's All-American (2021)

}}

Daeshun Ruffin (born March 26, 2003) is an American college basketball player for the Jackson State Tigers of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).

High school career

Ruffin played basketball for Callaway High School in Jackson, Mississippi. In his freshman season, he averaged 19.6 points and 5.8 assists per game, and led his team to the semifinals of the 5A state tournament.{{cite web |last=Alexander |first=Wilson |title=Introducing the 2018-19 Clarion Ledger boys' basketball Dandy Dozen |url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/2018/11/05/who-2018-19-clarion-ledger-boys-basketball-dandy-dozen/1889043002/ |website=The Clarion-Ledger |access-date=August 14, 2021 |date=November 5, 2018}} In his first game at the tournament, Ruffin scored 42 points, breaking Malik Newman's scoring record.{{cite web |last=Alexander |first=Wilson |title='You don't think he can do the things he does.' All eyes on Callaway's 5-foot-9 basketball star. |url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/2019/01/11/similarities-between-daeshun-ruffin-and-malik-newman-callaway-ms/2485973002/ |website=The Clarion-Ledger |access-date=August 4, 2021 |date=January 11, 2019}} Ruffin averaged 26 points, 4.6 rebounds and three assists per game as a sophomore.{{cite web |last=Jordan |first=Jason |title=Daeshun Ruffin earns respect after dominating the Nike EYBL |url=https://usatodayhss.com/2019/daeshun-ruffin-earns-respect-after-dominating-the-nike-eybl |website=USA Today High School Sports |access-date=August 14, 2021 |date=June 4, 2019}} He averaged 26.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.9 steals per game in his junior season, and won a 5A state title. Ruffin was selected as Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year.{{cite web |title=Daeshun Ruffin named MS Gatorade Player of the Year |url=https://www.wjtv.com/sports/the-sports-zone/daeshun-ruffin-named-ms-gatorade-player-of-the-year/ |website=WJTV |access-date=August 14, 2021 |date=March 26, 2020}} As a senior, he averaged 33.1 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game, and repeated as Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year.{{cite web |last=Milligan |first=Rashad |title=Ole Miss basketball signee Daeshun Ruffin repeats as Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year |url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/high-school/2021/06/04/daeshun-ruffin-mississippi-basketball-gatorade-player-year-ole-miss-signee/7548540002/ |website=The Clarion-Ledger |access-date=August 14, 2021 |date=June 4, 2021}} He was named a McDonald's All-American, and received All-State honors in each year of high school.{{cite web |last=Cook |first=Joe |title=Callaway's Daeshun Ruffin is a McDonald's All-American |url=https://www.wapt.com/article/callaway-s-daeshun-ruffin-is-a-mcdonald-s-all-american-02-23/35606954# |website=WAPT |access-date=August 14, 2021 |date=February 23, 2021}}{{cite web |last=Capers |first=Joshua |title=Callaway's Daeshun Ruffin is first Ole Miss basketball signee named McDonald's All-American |url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/high-school/2021/02/23/daeshun-ruffin-becomes-first-ole-miss-signee-named-mcdonalds-all-american/4563548001/ |website=The Clarion-Ledger |access-date=August 14, 2021 |date=February 23, 2021}}

=Recruiting=

Ruffin was a consensus four-star recruit and one of the top point guards in the 2021 class.{{cite web |last=Suss |first=Nick |title=Sports Illustrated ranks Callaway star, Ole Miss signee Daeshun Ruffin 15th in the nation |url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/high-school/2020/12/02/sports-illustrated-top-high-school-basketball-player-callaway-daeshun-ruffin/3801712001/ |website=The Clarion-Ledger |access-date=August 14, 2021 |date=December 2, 2020}} He initially committed to Auburn before reopening his recruitment.{{cite web |last=Blum |first=Sam |title=Top basketball prospect reportedly decommits from Auburn |url=https://www.al.com/auburnbasketball/2019/06/top-basketball-prospect-reportedly-decommits-from-auburn.html |website=AL.com |access-date=August 14, 2021 |date=June 14, 2019}} On June 17, 2020, Ruffin committed to Ole Miss over offers from Auburn, Florida, Mississippi State and LSU, among others.{{cite web |last=Berry |first=Zach |title=4-star guard Daeshun Ruffin commits to Ole Miss over Auburn, Florida, Mississippi State, and LSU |url=https://www.redcuprebellion.com/2020/6/17/21293818/ole-miss-basketball-2021-point-guard-daeshun-ruffin-commit-auburn-florida-lsu-jackson-kermit-davis |website=Red Cup Rebellion |access-date=August 14, 2021 |date=June 17, 2020}} He became the highest-ranked recruit in program history.{{cite web |title=Daeshun Ruffin Named McDonald’s All-American |url=https://olemisssports.com/news/2021/2/23/mens-basketball-daeshun-ruffin-named-mcdonalds-all-american.aspx |website=Ole Miss Athletics |access-date=August 14, 2021 |date=February 23, 2021}}

{{College Athlete Recruit Entry

| recruit = Daeshun Ruffin

| position = PG

| hometown = Jackson, MS

| highschool = Callaway (MS)

| feet = 5

| inches = 9

| weight = 160

| 40 =

| commitdate = June 17, 2020

| scout stars =

| rivals stars = 4

| 247 stars = 4

| espn stars = 4

| espn grade = 86

}}

{{College Athlete Recruit End

| 40 =

| year = 2021

| rivals ref title = Ole Miss 2021 Basketball Commitments

| scout ref title =

| espn ref title = 2021 Ole Miss Rebels Recruiting Class

| rivals school = olemiss

| scout s =

| espn schoolid = 145

| 247 overall = 57

| rivals overall = 57

| espn overall = 40

| accessdate = June 23, 2021

| bball = yes

}}

College career

Ruffin suffered a broken hand in his college debut against New Orleans on November 9, 2021.{{cite news|url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/college/ole-miss/2021/11/11/ole-miss-basketball-daeshun-ruffin-out-four-weeks-broken-hand/6392605001/|title=Ole Miss basketball guard Daeshun Ruffin out four weeks with broken hand|work=The Clarion-Ledger|first=Andy|last=Kostka|date=November 11, 2021|access-date=January 25, 2022}} He made his return on December 15 during a 62–52 win over Middle Tennessee State, scoring 12 points in 13 minutes.{{cite news|url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/college/ole-miss/2021/12/15/ole-miss-basketball-middle-tennessee-daeshun-ruffin-injury-return/6469389001/|title=Ole Miss basketball beats Middle Tennessee; freshman Daeshun Ruffin returns from injury|work=The Clarion-Ledger|first=Nick|last=Suss|date=December 15, 2021|access-date=January 25, 2022}} He recorded a team-high 19 points off the bench in their next game, a 76–68 victory over Dayton.{{cite news|url=https://www.si.com/college/olemiss/basketball/ole-miss-dayton-college-basketball-game-recap|title=Ole Miss Basketball Knocks Off Dayton 76-68 in Oxford|work=Sports Illustrated|first=John|last=Macon Gillespie|date=December 18, 2021|access-date=January 25, 2022}} Ruffin scored 19 points during a 76–72 win over LSU on February 1, 2022, but suffered a season-ending knee injury. He averaged 12.6 points, 3.4 assists and a team-high 2.3 steals per game.{{cite news |title=Mississippi Rebels guard Daeshun Ruffin suffers season-ending knee injury |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/33205770 |access-date=February 4, 2022 |work=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |date=February 3, 2022}} Ruffin played for Ole Miss during the 2021–22 and 2022–23 seasons before transferring to Jackson State.