4-star guard Daeshun Ruffin commits to Ole Miss over Auburn, Florida, Mississippi State, and LSU

Four-star point guard and Jackson, Miss. native Daeshun Ruffin has announced his commitment to Ole Miss over offers from Auburn, Florida, Mississippi State, and LSU, among others. Kermit Davis has been on fire this offseason and stays hot with the commitment from ‘the flashiest guard in high school.’

Entering his third year at the helm, Davis has answered the call after a rough follow-up to his NCAA tournament run by signing four-star Matthew Murrell, the highest-rated recruit in the program’s history, and then striking gold in the transfer portal with Romello White and Dimencio Vaughn.

Now, he’s added another talented piece to the Ole Miss basketball program with the verbal commitment from Ruffin, the No. 4 ranked point guard in the nation and top player in Mississippi. Assistant coach Win Case, who Davis added to the staff in March of 2018, was a big part in recruiting both Murrell and Ruffin, who are both serious ballers.

[Commitment Tweet / Insta post]

The Jackson Callaway (Miss.) product has torched Mississippi opponents and the AAU circuit for years with his high-flying play off the bounce and his seemingly unlimited range from behind the arc.

The No. 53 overall player in the 2021 class was originally committed to Auburn but that only lasted 11 days. After that, Davis and his staff made him a priority and it obviously caught his attention. In his first three years at Callaway, he’s averaged 24.4 points and 4.1 assists per game. Last season, the No. 8 point guard in the nation averaged close to 27 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.9 steals for the Chargers.

Ruffin and Callaway didn’t lose a game to a single Mississippi team in 2019, finishing the season with a 25-5 record and a 5A state title. Sure, he dominated the Magnolia State and helped Callaway win their eighth trophy, but the real magic was in games against national opponents.

In the eight games he played against out-of-state opponents, Ruffin was an electric factory. Outside of the 14-point performance against Curie (Ill.)...

[he scored 37 points in the first game against them]

...he didn’t skip a beat in the other six games:

• 37 points against Lausanne Collegiate School (Tenn.) and five-star Moussa Cisse
• 35 points against Wooddale (Tenn.) and four-star Johnathan Lawson
• 31 points against Moravian Prep (N.C.) and four-star Shakeel Moore
• 29 points against Leesville Road (N.C.) and four-star Carter Whitt
• 27 points against Word of God Academy (N.C.) and five-star Isaiah Todd
• 24 points against Briarcrest Christian School (Tenn.) and five-star Kennedy Chandler

If you’re keeping score at home, that’s 29.2 points per game against some of the best players and teams in the country. He’s also already keen on filling it up at The Pavilion.

Daeshun is Kermit Davis’ first commit in the 2021 class and it comes at an opportune time now that forward Blake Hinson has announced that he is leaving the program and guard Bryce Williams announced his intentions to transfer to Oklahoma State.

How does he fit in?

Despite his 5’9 frame, Ruffin is arguably one of the most dynamic scorers in the country. He can do it all. He can punish you from deep, off the dribble, or in transition. His athleticism is through the roof and he has impressive vision, involving his teammates as often as he blisters opponent’s defenses.

He is someone who is going to create his own shot, despite the diminutive size and he is surprisingly strong for a dude who is 160-pounds. His first step is tremendous and he can handle with the best of them. His quickness lends a hand on offense, sure, but he can also be a pest on defense with his quick hands and top-end speed.

I fully expect Ruffin and Murrell to form one of the most fun back courts not only in the SEC, but in the country for years to come. Ruffin could potentially spell Jarkel Joiner as a true freshman with their similar styles, but I think he is the next big thing in the Ole Miss program.

Highlights