Jackson native Daeshun Ruffin has been cleared to play one more season of college basketball.
The former Jackson State standout announced on Wednesday that the NCAA granted him another year. The move by the NCAA was unrelated to its new five-year eligibility rule, nor was Ruffin’s additional year the result of a court ruling.
“Grateful for everybody who stayed with me through the process,” Ruffin wrote on X. “Healthy. Eligible. Ready. One more chapter to write.”
God’s timing. 🙏🏾
After a long process, my 2022-23 season at Ole Miss has officially been restored by the NCAA. This is not a fifth-year extension or court ruling.
Grateful for everybody who stayed with me through the process.
Healthy. Eligible. Ready.
One more chapter to write
— #24SoShifty (@DaeshunRuffin) September 23, 2026
Ruffin began his college days at Ole Miss, where a promising freshman campaign was upended by a torn ACL he sustained during a conference game at LSU on Feb. 1, 2022. Ruffin battled back and appeared in 11 games for the Rebels in the 2022-23 campaign before transferring to Jackson State.
The point guard’s debut with the Tigers was delayed, as an injury sidelined him for the 2023-24 season. Once healthy, Ruffin was a force to be reckoned with. During two seasons with Mo Williams’ Jackson State team, he averaged just under 20 points and 5 rebounds per game. He earned SWAC Player of the Year honors in March.
Ruffin announced his intentions to enter the transfer portal earlier this year, pending his request for an additional year of eligibility. At this time, he has not said where he will land next, or whether he will return to Jackson State for year one of the Trey Johnson era. Williams left the program to be one of Mark Pope’s assistants at Kentucky.
Whichever program adds Ruffin to its roster will need to do so quickly, as the regular season tips off in just over a month.
