Jovani Ruff has 3 former Pac-12 schools on the Final 4 list

Consensus four-star and top-50 recruit for 2025 Jovani Ruff will announce his commitment on June 5. Ruff decides between Oregon, Cal, USC and Kansas.

Rising top-50 recruits in 2025 decide between 4 schools, decision nears

Ruff, a 6-4 shooting guard, had a stellar sophomore season but showed tremendous growth this season as he helped Long Beach (Calif.) Poly to a 24-8 record and a second-place finish in the CIF Division finals 2A. Ruff scored 27 points, including the game-winning 3-pointer, in Poly’s semifinal win over Corona del Mar. He averaged about 21 points, six rebounds and two assists for the season.

The athletic Ruff is an accomplished three-level scorer, although he is more of a slasher who can finish in a variety of ways despite his penchant for launching three-pointers. He also has a high basketball IQ and is a good playmaker with ball in 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 the 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 excessive movement on release extends his shooting stroke on the bounce. May 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 resist the break and ends up in half court. A solid athlete. The jump shot and overall shooting are the swing skills. Must clear the load and release it.”

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 finalists

Ruff has made just one campus visit, to Cal last September. Although Cal is considered the overwhelming favorite for him, Rivals.com’s Matt Moreno said USC entered the picture after the Trojans made hiring Erik Musselman. Moreno added that Kansas and Oregon have also maintained contact with him.

Golden bears from California

Ruff last visited Cal on September 8. Here’s what he told Golden Bear Report about his visit:

“It was really good, and actually much better than I expected. People talk down to Cal because of the season they had last year, but I feel like they’re going to have a really good year. The staff are great and the players are really good.”

Oregon ducks

Oregon offered Ruff a scholarship in August 2023. According to Duck Territory’s Matt Prehm, Oregon had since worked to get Ruff to Eugene, but that didn’t happen.

Ruff spoke to Prehm about the Duck last fall and this is what he said:

“I like their playing style. They have Jackson Shelstadup there and I feel like I could play with him and he could help me hit my shot anytime.

USC Trojans

USC became involved with Ruff earlier this year Andy Enfield was still the head of the program. The Trojans have been gaining a lot of momentum lately, especially since they are his hometown team and have a connection to Musselman.

“They’re the hometown school,” Ruff said when talking about USC. “My mom works on the stat book and the shot clock. I have been going to competitions since I was little. This 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 CV.”