{"id":80351,"date":"2024-06-05T04:27:07","date_gmt":"2024-06-05T08:27:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=80351"},"modified":"2024-06-05T04:27:07","modified_gmt":"2024-06-05T08:27:07","slug":"rising-2025-top-50-recruit-deciding-between-4-schools-decision-imminent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/06\/05\/rising-2025-top-50-recruit-deciding-between-4-schools-decision-imminent\/","title":{"rendered":"Rising 2025 Top-50 Recruit Deciding Between 4 Schools, Decision Imminent"},"content":{"rendered":"

Consensus four-star and top-50 2025 recruit Jovani Ruff<\/strong> <\/a>is set to reveal his commitment on June 5. Ruff is deciding between Oregon, Cal, USC, and Kansas.<\/p>\n

Rising 2025 Top-50 Recruit Deciding Between 4 Schools, Decision Imminent<\/h2>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Here is On3 Jaime Shaw’s scouting report on Ruff:<\/p>\n

\u201cJovani 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.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Ruff’s Four Finalist<\/h3>\n

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<\/a> said that USC came into the picture following the Trojans’ hiring of Eric Musselman<\/strong><\/a>. Moreno added that Kansas and Oregon also have maintained contact with him.<\/p>\n

California Golden Bears<\/h4>\n

Ruff visited Cal last on September 8. Here is what he told Golden Bear Report about his visit<\/a>:<\/p>\n

“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.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Oregon Ducks<\/h4>\n

Oregon offered \u00a0Ruff a scholarship in August 2023. According to Matt Prehm of Duck Territory<\/a>, Oregon had been working to get Ruff to Eugene since then, but it didn’t happen.<\/p>\n

Ruff spoke to Prehm last fall about the Duck and this is what he said:<\/p>\n

“I like their playing style. They’ve got\u00a0Jackson Shelstad<\/b><\/a>up there and I feel like I could play with him and he could help me get my shot off whenever.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

USC Trojans<\/h3>\n

USC became involved with Ruff earlier this year when Andy Enfield<\/strong><\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

“They are the hometown school, Ruff said when talking about USC<\/a>. “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.”<\/p>\n

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