LONG BEACH — Jovani Ruff said he did not mind the late-night and early-morning phone calls during his recruiting process. He quickly grew fond of them.
Ruff, a four-star recruit, cited the family atmosphere and the deep bonds cultivated during the recruiting process as he announced his commitment Wednesday to play Division I college basketball at Cal.
“I’m going to University of California Berkeley. I chose them because they were the most consistent throughout the whole recruiting process,” said Ruff, who is considered a Top 50 national recruit in the Class of 2025 by 247 Sports. “They kept believing in me. Didn’t give up on me when I was playing bad or good. I’m just excited to go play for them.”
Long Beach Poly junior guard Jovani Ruff, a four-star recruit, announced his verbal commitment to the University of California Berkeley Wednesday afternoon.(Photo by: John W. Davis, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Long Beach Poly junior guard Jovani Ruff, a four-star recruit, announced his verbal commitment to the University of California Berkeley Wednesday afternoon.(Photo by: John W. Davis, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Long Beach Poly junior guard Jovani Ruff, a four-star recruit, announced his verbal commitment to the University of California Berkeley Wednesday afternoon.(Photo by: John W. Davis, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Long Beach Poly junior guard Jovani Ruff, a four-star recruit, announced his verbal commitment to the University of California Berkeley Wednesday afternoon.(Photo by: John W. Davis, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
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Long Beach Poly’s Jovani Ruff dunks the ball as the Jackrabbits lead La Canada in a CIF-SS Boys Basketball Division 2A playoff game in Long Beach, CA, on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Long Beach Poly junior Jovani Ruff shows frustration during first round CIF State Division II playoff action against Bakersfield Christian on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, at Poly High School in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Long Beach Poly junior Jovani Ruff looks for an open man in first round CIF State Division II playoff action against Bakersfield Christian on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, at Poly High School in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Long Beach Poly’s Jovani Ruff (1) shoots over Marina’s Ryan O’Rourke (35) during the CIF-SS Division 2A championship game between Marina High and Long Beach Poly High at Edison High School on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024…..(Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)
Long Beach Poly junior Jovani Ruff helped lead the Jackrabbits’ to a 57-54 win over Corona del Mar in CIF-SS Division 2A semifinal play on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024, at Poly High School in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Long Beach Poly junior Jovani Ruff shoots during the Jackrabbits’ 57-54 win over Corona del Mar in CIF-SS Division 2A semifinal play on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024, at Poly High School in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Long Beach Poly junior Jovani Ruff shoots during the Jackrabbits’ 57-54 win over Corona del Mar in CIF-SS Division 2A semifinal play on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024, at Poly High School in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Long Beach Poly junior Jovani Ruff pulls up for a jumper during the Jackrabbits’ 57-54 win over Corona del Mar in CIF-SS Division 2A semifinal play on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024, at Poly High School in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Long Beach Poly junior Jovani Ruff is ready to take on Corona del Mar in CIF-SS Division 2A semifinal action on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024, at Poly High School in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Long Beach Poly junior Jovani Ruff shoots during the Jackrabbits’ 57-54 win over Corona del Mar in CIF-SS Division 2A semifinal play on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024, at Poly High School in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Long Beach Poly’s Jovani Ruff, right, is tightly guarded by Corona Del Mar’s Ganon Overfelt in their CIF-SS Division 2A semifinal matchup on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024, at Poly High School in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Long Beach Poly’s Jovani Ruff puts pressure on Corona Del Mar’s Maxwell Scott as he tries to inbound the ball in the final seconds in CIF-SS Division 2A semifinal action on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024, at Poly High School in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Long Beach Poly’s Jovani Ruff tries to push past La Canada’s Anders Petersen in a CIF-SS Boys Basketball Division 2A playoff game in Long Beach, CA, on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Long Beach Poly’s Jovani Ruff tries to push past La Canada’s Anders Petersen in a CIF-SS Boys Basketball Division 2A playoff game in Long Beach, CA, on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Long Beach Poly’s Jovani Ruff goes up for the shot in front of La Canada’s Anders Petersen as the two teams battle it out in a CIF-SS Boys Basketball Division 2A playoff game in Long Beach, CA, on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
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Ruff’s top four schools included Kansas, Oregon and USC.
He said he has known for several weeks that he would commit to playing ACC basketball against Duke, North Carolina and Florida State under two-time NBA champion and current Golden Bears head coach Mark Madsen.
“When I went on my visit he was telling he played for the Lakers and all these Kobe stories so hopefully when I get to campus he can tell me way more,” Ruff said.
“He’s a great guy,” Ruff continued. “I’m not even talking about basketball. He’s a great guy. He understands you. He understands your struggles, what you’re good at but basketball-wise, he played in the NBA, had a great college career… He knows what he’s talking about and I believe in him.”
As a freshman, the 6-foot-5 Ruff helped lead Poly to the 2022 CIF Southern Section Division 2AA championship game. As a sophom*ore and junior, he was the team’s leading scorer. He is the reigning Moore League MVP and led Poly to the 2024 CIF-SS Division 2A championship game.
“It’s a wonderful feeling,” Long Beach Poly coach Shelton Diggs said. “It’s just a testament to him and all the hard work he’s put in. (I’m) really proud of him and his family for trusting the process and not the Poly process but just the process of basketball, continuing to work, continuing to get better.
“You see a lot of freshmen come in highly touted, ranked and don’t continue to work as hard to continue to get better but Jovani has trusted that process, continued to work, continued to get better. Now today is just a culmination of all his hard work.”
Diggs believes Cal is getting an all-around player.
“They’re getting a really good defensive player,” Diggs continued. “A guy who can shoot the ball really well and plays team basketball really well.”
Diggs said he fully supports Ruff’s decision to commit before his senior year, especially with the ever-evolving college basketball landscape due to the transfer portal.
“Especially with this day and age, the transfer portal, stuff like that, a lot of high school kids are kind of getting overlooked,” Diggs said, “so it’s good that he’s able to do get something solid, get something set in stone and now he can just focus on his senior year and not have that in the back of his head of where am I going to go to college.”
Ruff is Poly’s first recruit to commit to a high-major Division I basketball program since Peyton Watson signed with UCLA in 2021.
