SWAC Player of the Year Daeshun Ruffin Returning to Jackson State Men's Basketball

Jackson State men's basketball will have star guard Daeshun Ruffin back on the floor for another season, according to reporting by HBCU Gameday. The Jackson State athletic department announced Ruffin's return through a social media teaser that featured a graphic of the star guard in a Tigers uniform with the words "I'M BACK." The university's men's basketball program posted the image alongside a question asking if Ruffin was ready for one more run with the squad.

Ruffin's decision to return provides Jackson State with one of the most prolific offensive guards in Division I college basketball. During the 2025-26 campaign, the Jackson, Mississippi native put together a dominant individual performance, averaging 23.3 points, 5.3 assists, and 2.8 rebounds per contest while starting in all 28 games he played, as reported by HBCU Gameday. Ruffin maintained a 42.6 percent shooting mark from the field and converted 84.3 percent of his attempts from the free-throw line throughout the season.

Those standout individual statistics led to major postseason accolades for the hometown star. According to HBCU Gameday, Ruffin earned both SWAC Player of the Year honors and a selection to the First Team All-SWAC roster. The Southwestern Athletic Conference noted that Ruffin was one of just three Division I players in the entire nation to average at least 20 points and five assists during the regular season. Ruffin also recorded eight games with 30 or more points during the season and was named the HBCUGO National Player of the Year.

Ruffin's basketball career has deep local roots in Jackson, Mississippi. Before arriving at Jackson State, he was a standout prep star at Callaway High School before committing to play in the Southeastern Conference at Ole Miss. In his freshman season with the Rebels, Ruffin averaged 12.6 points per game, and he later posted 9.5 points per game during the 2022-23 season before making the transition back home to play for Jackson State, according to reporting from HBCU Gameday.

Since joining the Tigers, Ruffin has served as the offensive focal point for the Jackson State lineup. HBCU Gameday notes that Ruffin's dynamic shot-creation skills, ability to draw fouls and get to the free-throw line, and court vision as a passer give the Tigers a proven leader as they prepare for the upcoming campaign. Jackson State compiled a 12-21 overall record and a 10-8 mark in Southwestern Athletic Conference play last season despite Ruffin's high-scoring individual production. With Ruffin officially returning to lead the backcourt, Jackson State will have another opportunity to build its program around its premier local star.