Kermit Davis sends message to Daeshun Ruffin amid mental health break

Ole Miss guard Daeshun Ruffin announced Tuesday that he’d be taking a moment to step away from the team, taking a physical and mental health break. Ole Miss head coach Kermit Davis spoke about Ruffin’s decision following their loss to Kentucky and was asked what his message was to the rest of the team regarding the situation.

“We didn’t talk about it at all,” Davis said. “We love Daeshun, I love his family, were gonna give him great support during this time until he joins Ole Miss basketball. He’s still part of it, he loves Ole Miss, he’s just going through some tough times as a young player dealing with a lot of different injuries.”

Ruffin was the team’s second-leading scorer, averaging 9.5 points per game. He’s battled injuries for a large part of the year, playing just 11 of the Rebels’ 21 games this season. Ole Miss has also been without their leading scorer Matthew Murrell for their last three games as he suffered a knee injury.

Despite those two major losses, Davis has had a glass-half-full mindset, expressing excitement about getting his young players some extra playing time.

“But we’ve played with him, played without him a lot with his injuries. But without him and Matt, your two leading scorers and your one and two, I was excited. I was really excited about the development of our freshman guards. They’re gonna be fresh man, you see it, but they’ve really really got a great chance,” Davis said.

Davis also spoke more about his own personal conversation with Ruffin about his decision, pulling back the curtain on the overwhelming support and love they’ll show him throughout his journey.

“He’s just honest, he loves the coaching staff, he loves Ole Miss. Met with him and his family, he’s just in a place that he wants to get better,” Davis said. “Just mentally and through his injury and he’s just honest, got a great heart about him and like I said we love Daeshun. It’s a great relationship, like I said, we’re going to be there and support Daeshun and love on him and help him in any way we can on and off the court.”

The Ole Miss program and family are hoping for a successful process and journey for Ruffin as he works towards a return to full mental and physical health. The Rebels have been having a disappointing season, losing their last four games and going 1-10 in their last 11 games. And hopefully their two star players can eventually make a return and turn their season around sooner than later.