Auburn lands pledge from 2021 PG Daeshun Ruffin
It looks like Auburn's "Fish Fry Weekend" is already paying dividends for Bruce Pearl and the basketball program. The Tigers landed their first commitment from the weekend's visitor list, as 2021 Jackson (MS) Callaway point guard Daeshun Ruffin made his verbal pledge on Monday.
"Auburn is a great fit for me as a small guard," Ruffin told HoopSeen.com following his commitment. "My playing style fits Coach Pearl and his coaching style."
One of the main catalysts behind Auburn's historic Final Four run this year, point guard Jared Harper defied all odds as a sub-6-footer and became one of the Tigers' most influential players to ever step foot on campus. Harper put together some impressive accolades, including All-SEC Second Team and Midwest Regional Most Outstanding Player this year. As a junior he became only the second player in program history to accumulate 1,400 points and 500 assists in a career. Harper has forgone his senior year to enter the NBA Draft later this month.
Jackson, MS
Pearl and his staff hope lightning can strike twice with a small guard in the form of Ruffin. As expected, Harper's track record and Auburn's Final Four run played a big part in his decision.
"Jared [Harper] played a huge impact in my decision. The way he plays compares to my game very well. He had a good career."
During his time on campus this weekend, Ruffin was able to connect with Pearl and the assistant coaches, as well as current and former players. The sophomore was a standout during pick-up with the prospective recruits and players involved.
"Coach Pearl just explained to me his plans for the program and how I fit his coaching style. It's a great fit for me," Ruffin explained.
Despite only being a sophomore, Ruffin had already started to bring in scholarship offers. After a big weekend on the Nike EYBL circuit in Dallas two weekends ago headlined by a 51-point performance, several schools extended offers. Nevertheless, much like Harper, Auburn was one of the first high-major programs to recruit Ruffin and it paid off. He chose the Tigers over scholarship offers from Alabama, Baylor, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, and others.
With Ruffin's commitment, Auburn gets a head-start on the 2021 recruiting class. The Tigers also hope to land in-state guard J.D. Davison, who could be a nice complement to Ruffin at the next level. Auburn also expects to make a splash in the 2020 class, as they are favored to land some high-profile targets.
The most notable player from that list?
Sharife Cooper, another sub-6-footer who has dominated the EYBL the past two years.
Bruce Pearl has found a niche with small guards in his system and it doesn't look like he's going to shy away from it going forward.
