Niko Ruffin

Niko Ruffin (born June 12, 2003) is an American college basketball player for the Syracuse University Orange team.

Early life
Niko Ruffin was born on June 12, 2003, in the New York City borough of Manhattan. He is the son of Dru Hill founder Tamir "Nokio the N-Tity" Ruffin and radio personality Angie Martinez. Martinez ended her relationship with Ruffin's father shortly after his birth stating that she was not ready for a full commitment to him. Singer Mary J. Blige, a close friend of Martinez, is Ruffin's godmother.

High school career
In 2017, Ruffin began his basketball career at Paramus Catholic High School in Paramus, New Jersey. In both his junior and senior years, he was the team captain of the Paladins. During his junior year, he helped the team score a 19–1 win against an opposing team. In his senior year, the Paladins won 85–57 against Westwood's high school team and were named the second team All-Big North United Division. He graduated from Paramus in June 2021, just shy of his eighteenth birthday, and went on to Syracuse University to continue his education and basketball career.

College career
Ruffin joined Syracuse University's Orange men's basketball team in August 2021, where he played point guard position. During his freshman year, he sustained an ankle injury that prevented him from playing two exhibition games, which the team lost. He recovered in late December 2021 and returned to the team the following January, defeating the Louisville Cardinals. He scored an average 1.0 every two minutes. In his sophomore year, he helped the Orange defeat the Oakland Golden Grizzlies. However, they lost to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Pittsburgh Panthers and the Duke Blue Devils. He scored an average 2.0 every eight minutes. As a junior, the Oranges defeated the Chaminade Silverswords and North Carolina Tar Heels. He scored 2.0 every four minutes.