Consensus four-star and top-50 2025 recruit Jovani Ruff is set to reveal his commitment on June 5. Ruff is deciding between Oregon, Cal, USC, and Kansas.
Rising 2025 Top-50 Recruit Deciding Between 4 Schools, Decision Imminent
Ruff, a 6-4 shooting guard, had a stellar sophomore season but showed tremendous growth this season while helping Long Beach (Calif.) Poly to a 24-8 record and a runner-up finish in the CIF Division 2A finals. Ruff scored 27 points, including the game-winning 3-pointer, in Poly’s semifinal win over Corona del Mar. He averaged around 21 points, six rebounds, and two assists for the season.
The athletic Ruff is a skilled three-level scorer, though he is more of a slashed who can finish in several different ways despite his penchant for launching 3-pointers. He also possesses a high basketball IQ and is a good playmaker with the ball in his hand.
Here is On3 Jaime Shaw’s scouting report on Ruff:
“Jovani Ruff has good positional size with a projectable frame and nice length. He has fluid mobility and an innate sense of where to be off ball. He is a solid cutter and a good off ball defender.
The jump shot is a question-mark. He is not a catch and shoot threat and the excess movement in his release elongate(s) his shooting stroke off the bounce. Can struggle to get clean looks with solid athletes guarding him.
I like his defensive instincts. Has quick hands and can move his feet. He is comfortable on the ball, can push the break and get to spots on the half court. A solid athlete. The jump shot and overall shooting is the swing skill. Needs to clean up the load and release.”
Ruff is rated as a four-star recruit by all four major recruiting services: ESPN, ON3, 247Sports, and Rivals. Of the four recruiting services, ESPN has him the highest at No. 27. He is No. 41 by 247Sports, No. 56 by Rivals, and No. 96 by On3.
Ruff’s Four Finalist
Ruff has only made one campus visit, to Cal last September. While Cal is considered the overwhelming favorite for him, Matt Moreno of Rivals.com said that USC came into the picture following the Trojans’ hiring of Eric Musselman. Moreno added that Kansas and Oregon also have maintained contact with him.
California Golden Bears
Ruff visited Cal last on September 8. Here is what he told Golden Bear Report about his visit:
“It was really good, and it was actually way better than I expected. People be talking down on Cal because of the season they had las year, but I feel like they’re gonna have a really good year. The staff is great, and the players are really good.”
Oregon Ducks
Oregon offered Ruff a scholarship in August 2023. According to Matt Prehm of Duck Territory, Oregon had been working to get Ruff to Eugene since then, but it didn’t happen.
Ruff spoke to Prehm last fall about the Duck and this is what he said:
“I like their playing style. They’ve got Jackson Shelstadup there and I feel like I could play with him and he could help me get my shot off whenever.”
USC Trojans
USC became involved with Ruff earlier this year when Andy Enfield was still the head of the program. The Trojans have been gaining a lot of steam lately, especially with them being his hometown team and a connection with Musselman.
“They are the hometown school, Ruff said when talking about USC. “My mom works the stat book and the shot clock. I have been going to games since I was little. They used to be my dream school but now I am open to all schools. Eric Musselman offered me and he is a great coach. He coached my dad in the D-League. He has a good resume.”
