2026–27 SWAC Top 10 Players: Daeshun Ruffin Sets the Standard
2026-10-26
These are MMH projections for 2026–27 impact, not a reproduction of the official preseason awards. The list weighs verified returning production, likely responsibility and fit. Figures refer to the full 2025–26 season where official final tables were retrieved; smaller samples are identified.
1. Daeshun Ruffin — Jackson State
Ruffin has the clearest case for the top spot. His 23.3 points and 5.3 assists per game establish both the scoring burden he can handle and his value as a creator. His return gives Jackson State an offensive reference point that most SWAC rebuilds lack. The next task is using that production to support a more complete team.
2. Mike James — Alabama State
James brings a 21.4-point scoring season from Mississippi Valley State to a roster with more experienced offensive alternatives. That should give Chris Wright choices about how to distribute difficult possessions. The projection depends on James remaining productive while sharing responsibility; a strong individual average alone does not establish how efficiently a new group will play.
3. James Graham III — Alabama A&M
Graham combines returning SWAC production with shooting that can change the shape of a frontcourt. He averaged 10.3 points and 4.0 rebounds while shooting 39.1 percent from three. That skill can create room for the guards and interior finishers. He can climb this list if he turns a useful scoring role into more consistent two-way influence.
4. Daniel Perez-Rouzan — Bethune-Cookman
Perez-Rouzan returns after averaging 11.8 points and 4.9 rebounds. His presence gives Bethune-Cookman a known interior scoring option as the new guards settle in. The current roster is the relevant update: he remains with the Wildcats. His value comes from making those perimeter additions easier to integrate into a balanced offense.
5. Jaquan Sanders — Florida A&M
Sanders offers Florida A&M established ballhandling and passing after averaging 11.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists. Ward can build around that experience while evaluating a less proven frontcourt. Sanders does not need to dominate every possession to matter; making the next pass and managing difficult stretches will be central to FAMU's season.
6. Dorian McMillian — Jackson State
McMillian gives Jackson State another player who has already carried meaningful offensive responsibility in the league. He averaged 11.9 points and 4.4 rebounds, and his conference shooting offered encouraging stretches. Alongside Ruffin, his ability to attack a tilted defense can be as valuable as creating the first advantage himself. Greater consistency would make the partnership harder to contain.
7. Quentin Heady — Bethune-Cookman
Heady returns with a useful combination of scoring and forward versatility. His 10.3 points and 3.7 rebounds came in a full 32-game season, giving Theus a player whose role is already established. He can connect lineups that feature different guard combinations. He should be evaluated separately from Jakobi Heady, whose larger scoring average belongs to a different player.
8. Antonio Baker Jr. — Florida A&M
The SWAC's preseason defensive player of the year earns a place through his role at both ends. Baker averaged 9.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists, with 1.2 steals per game. His perimeter defense can take difficult assignments away from Sanders. If FAMU's interior group needs time, that ability to pressure and contain the ball becomes even more important.
9. Sami Pissis — Alabama A&M
Pissis supplies organization alongside Alabama A&M's scoring forwards. His 10.4 points and 4.0 assists came with 120 assists against 54 turnovers. That record gives the Bulldogs a proven distributor as they work new interior players into the offense. The current roster and preseason awards confirm his return, making him an essential part of the evaluation.
10. Jalen Tatum — Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Tatum's placement is a projection of opportunity as well as production. He averaged 7.7 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists in eleven games at Jackson State and now joins a roster that needs creation. His shooting and experience can help Arkansas-Pine Bluff outperform its preseason position. Availability and the ability to sustain a larger workload remain central to the case.
Other players to watch
Amaree Brown brings 13.8-point Division I scoring to Alabama State. Kevin Patton Jr. has an opportunity to expand his role at Bethune-Cookman. Derrick Rivers and AJ Abrams arrive with productive junior-college scoring backgrounds, although that competition context matters when projecting their immediate impact.
Sources
Original analysis informed by Blue Ribbon, current official team rosters, SWAC preseason awards and the official statistical sources below. Names follow current roster usage.