LITTLE ROCK, AR – Head coach Chris Beard has added his third signee in Jermaine Ruttley, a 6-3 guard transferring from Florida A&M with immediate eligibility. Ruttley averaged 17.4 points and 6.7 rebounds as a junior for the Rattlers in the 2014-15 season.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to play for a terrific coaching staff and program,” Ruttley said. “We will work hard to compete for a Sun Belt Championship. The time is now.”
A native of Radcliff, Ky., Ruttley shot 45.1 percent from the floor while averaging 3.1 assists and 1.6 steals for FAMU. Ruttley led the team in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals last season.
Ruttley had received interest from Georgia Tech, Louisiana Tech, Memphis, Purdue, Oklahoma State, Tennessee, Alabama, Tulane, Eastern Kentucky and WKU prior to committing to the Trojans.
“Terrific get for Chris Beard and the staff,” ESPN’s Jeff Goodman said. “Jermaine is a proven scorer at the D-I level. He chose UALR despite interest from multiple high-major programs.”
Ruttley scored in double figures in 25 of FAMU’s 29 games, including 20-plus 13 times. He scored a season-high 30 points on 9-of-17 shooting from the floor, including 4-of-8 from 3, and grabbed nine rebounds at Delaware State on Feb. 9. He closed the season with successive 28-point efforts against North Carolina A&T (Feb. 28) and Savannah State (March 5). He shot a combined 17 of 30 from the floor and 5 of 11 from 3-point range over the final two games.
An excellent rebounder, Ruttley recorded five double-doubles on the year. He scored 17 points and pulled down 16 boards – the most by a FAMU player all season – at Bethune-Cookman on Feb. 21. He added 19 points and 10 rebounds just two days later at Savannah State. He totaled 24 points and 13 rebounds at Stetson (Jan. 3), 28 points and 12 boards at Morgan State (Jan. 17) and 21 points, 14 rebounds at Coppin State (Jan. 19).
In FAMU’s matchup at Morgan State, Ruttley connected on 12 of 14 free throw attempts, the best performance at the foul line by a Rattlers player in 2014-15.
Ruttley’s 46 steals were highlighted by 13-multi steal games. He totaled a season-high four steals three times, and had at least three steals in three of the season’s final four games. His 33 made 3-pointers were second-most on the team.
Ruttley played his first two seasons of college basketball at Kaskaskia College, where he averaged 17.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists as a sophomore. He played his high school basketball at North Hardin High School in Elizabethtown, Ky.
