BIRMINGHAM, Ala. | Jackson State senior guard Daeshun Ruffin was named the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Preseason Player of the Year and Dorian McMillian was named second team on a vote on the league's head coaches and communications professionals, announced by the conference office at SWAC Media Day on Wednesday.

Ruffin, also a first team selection, ended the season last year in the SWAC Championship Game and was named to All-Tournament team at the conclusion of the tournament. He scored in double figures 20 times, including a streak of 13 consecutive games from Dec. 28 (Cal Baptist) to Feb. 15 (Florida A&M). He scored 20-plus points eight times including a career-high 37 points against Bethune-Cookman (Jan. 25), and finished the season with one game in double-assists, finishing with a career-high 10 against Southern (Feb. 3). He recorded one double-double on the season, coming against Southern (Feb. 3) with 23 points and 10 assists. He recorded five or more rebounds six times, and grabbed a career-high nine rebounds against Alcorn State (Feb. 22), narrowly missing a double-double. He also recorded three or more steals five times, including recording four twice with the last coming against Florida A&M (Jan. 27).

McMillian was named Second Team All-Conference after he was named Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Freshman of the Year. He scored in double figures 18 times, and scored in double figures 10 different times against conference competition, including nine in the regular season. He also scored 20 or more points two times including a career-high 23 points against Alabama State (Jan. 11). He scored 20 points against nationally-ranked Iowa State (Dec. 8), scored 19 points two different times with the last coming against Bethune-Cookman (Feb. 17). McMillian shot 50 percent or better from the floor 10 different times, recorded five or more rebounds 15 times. He recorded a career-high eight rebounds against Bethune-Cookman (Feb. 17), and a season-high three assists against Kentucky (Nov. 22). He recorded two or more steals 11 times, including a career-high three steals two times with the last coming against Mississippi Valley State (Mar. 8).

The Tigers were picked to finish third in the preseason poll with 208 total points and one first-place vote. They were picked to finish behind Bethune-Cookman (232 total/12 first-place) and Southern (214 total/five first-place). They were picked ahead of Alabama State (183 total/three first-place) and Texas Southern (182 total). The remainder of the poll includes Alabama A&M at No. 6, followed by Grambling State, Florida A&M, Prairie View A&M, Alcorn State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff (one first-place vote), and Mississippi Valley State.

Jackson State opens the season with an exhibition game on Oct. 27 against Southern Miss at Lee E. Williams AAC, before opening the regular season on the road against Illinois on Nov. 3.

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