‘He was going to be one of the top point guards in the (SEC)’: When does Ole Miss expect to get back Daeshun Ruffin?
The videos for this story on Ole Miss second-year point guard Daeshun Ruffin were provided by Ole Miss Sports Production
OXFORD | Tuesday was the very first time a new-look Ole Miss basketball roster could finally take the floor together in an official practice capacity.
The NCAA allows 10 extra practices for teams making foreign exhibition tours in the summer. Ole Miss, which will play local teams in The Bahamas from July 31 to August 5, is spreading its practices out over July.
Fortunately, Ole Miss is finally whole. Buffalo transfer Josh Mballa and decorated high school signee Malique Ewin, the only late-arrivals Ole Miss was waiting on, have been in the fold for a few weeks now, and head coach Kermit Davis likes what he sees.
“Excited about our team,” Davis said. “A good blend of eight new guys — the four freshmen and the four transfers, and then, obviously, the six guys returning. Four of those guys are on the floor right now.”
Star second-year point guard Daeshun Ruffin and veteran forward Robert Allen currently aren’t practicing.
Both players suffered season-ending ACL injuries last season, when Ole Miss finished under .500 and missed out on the postseason entirely. Ruffin is a former Top 50 recruit and McDonald’s All-American.
He was also the highest-ranked signee in school history.
Ruffin was emerging as the Rebels’ most exciting player before he went down in February, averaging 16.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals in four straight games. He was SEC Freshman of the Week.
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“I’m feeling good, man,” Ruffin said. “Basically, in my rehab, we’re working on my jumping techniques. Kind of past the part where we’re building muscle around the knee and in the quad. Just working on jumping, running and getting technique down. Proper technique. It’s going good so far.”
Davis said Ruffin is ahead of schedule.
However, he won’t have any contact activity this summer. The goal, Davis said, is to have Ruffin back by September for preseason preparations.
Ole Miss lost nine of its last 10 games without him. He also suffered a hand injury.
“Daeshun, I’ve been so impressed with the maturity level,” Davis said. “He’s doing individual skill development on the floor. There’s some limits on what he can do. He’s not going to do any contact with us this summer. Excited about where he’s at.
“If he was totally healthy, he was going to be one of the top two or three point guards in the (SEC) last year. Daeshun and Matt (Murrell) are probably one of the most underrated back courts in college basketball.”
