BIRMINGHAM, Ala – The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced the Men’s Basketball Preseason Awards ahead of Media Day, as voted by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors. Jackson State’s Daeshun Ruffin was named the SWAC Preseason Player of the Year while Florida A&M’s Antonio Baker snagged the SWAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year award.
SWAC Preseason Player of the Year: Daeshun Ruffin, Jackson State
Officially making his return to the Tigers, the Fifth-Year Guard from Jackson, Mississippi led the SWAC with 23.3 points a game while shooting 42 percent from the field, 30 percent from beyond the arc and 84 percent from the charity stripe. Ruffin was ranked No. 5 in the NCAA in scoring displayed grit on the defensive side of the ball leading Jackson State with 1.6 steals a game. Ruffin’s explosive scoring was displayed with eight 30+ point games and 11 20+ point performances through 28 games played. Daeshun Ruffin is seen as one of the nation’s top returners and earns the SWAC Preseason Player of the Year award to an already loaded resume.
SWAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Antonio Baker, Florida A&M
The Senior Guard from Savannah, Georgia returns to the Rattlers as the top defender for Florida A&M after averaging 1.2 steals a game. Baker had 10 games where he added two or more steals, including a stretch where he added 12 games through three games. Baker’s hard-nosed defense and knack for wanting the ball was respected by his peers with the honor, being ranked in the SWAC’s top 25 in steals through the 2025-26 season. Antonio Baker Jr. returns to Florida A&M with the goal to win; he adds a Preseason Honor to his resume as the Defensive Player of the Year.
A full listing of the preseason selections can be found below.
SWAC Preseason Player of the Year
Daeshun Ruffin, Jackson State
SWAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Antonio Baker Jr., Florida A&M
All-SWAC First Team
Daeshun Ruffin, Jackson State
Daniel Rouzan, Bethune-Cookman
Michael James, Alabama State
Dorian McMillian, Jackson State
Jaquan Sanders, Florida A&M
All-SWAC Second Team
James Graham, Alabama A&M
Sami Pissis, Alabama A&M
Quentin Heady, Bethune-Cookman
Antonio Baker, Florida A&M
Jalen Tatum, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
About the SWAC
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is considered one of the premier HBCU conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing with professional sports teams.
Current championship competition offered by the league includes competition for men in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field and Tennis.
Women’s competition is offered in the sports of Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, Soccer, Softball, Tennis and Volleyball.
Follow the SWAC
For complete coverage of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, please follow the SWAC on social media at @TheSWAC (Twitter), @TheSWAC (Facebook), and @TheSWAC (Instagram) or visit the official home of the Southwestern Athletic Conference at
www.swac.org.