Kermit Davis provides injury update on Daeshun Ruffin, Robert Allen

Two Ole Miss basketball players are on the mend after suffering season-ending knee injuries last season. And according to head coach Kermit Davis, they’re both ahead of schedule in their recovery.

Gadgety point guard Daeshun Ruffin was the team’s de facto point guard as a true freshman, leading Ole Miss in assists per game before an ACL tear took him out for the remainder of the year. The former top-50 recruit and No. 1 player in the state if Mississippi in the 2021 class is enjoying a successful recovery, though.

In a recent press conference, here was Coach Davis’ update on the future star Rebel guard.

“Daeshun’s ahead of schedule. Been so impressed with the maturity level. And it’s not the easiest thing for a young guy, you know. Especially when he did his hand, then he had his knee. But he’s doing individual skill development on the floor. There’s some limits of what he can do. He’s not going to do any kind of contact with us this summer. In the fall, September area, we sure hope that [he’s] going to be on the floor with us. So we’re excited about where he’s at from a rehab standpoint.”

Ole Miss needs him badly. The team suffered without a true point guard presence a year ago, and the rising 5-foot-9 sophomore figures to slide right back into that role once healthy. His scoring shouldn’t go overlooked, either. Ruffin averaged 12.6 points a game in the 14 games he did play and is the projected leading scorer on this year’s team per Bart Torvik’s numbers. (A website, by the way, that every college basketball fan should check out, especially if you like analytics.)

The other Rebel who had his season cut short with a nasty knee injury is upcoming fifth-year senior Robert Allen. He only appeared in eight games before being sidelined for the year. Davis also said he was doing great in his recovery.

“Robert is way ahead of schedule. It’s unbelievable what he’s done. He’s really going through live one-on-one work, not just one-on-zero work. Moving, cutting, shooting. He’s not going to be with our team at all either in the summer. You know, I really think September 1, Robert will start integrating into some non-contact with our team. But fast-paced, full-speed.

“Sometimes, those injuries take a year to heal. But I think, right now, Robert is well advanced in that, It’s just gonna be kind of how he feels. We hope that we have Robert in contact, he and Daeshun both, by October 1, by official practice. I think we will. May be in a limited situation depending on how they do.”

So, sounds like both guys will be back at practice hopefully by September. And back to full speed with everyone else by October. Which allows plenty of time for them to reintegrate by the time the season starts in mid-November.

Crucial year for Kermit Davis at Ole Miss. Keeping Allen and especially Ruffin healthy is vital to their success this upcoming season.