Alex Ruoff

Alex Ruoff (born August 26, 1986 in Spring Hill, Florida) is the current starting forward for the West Virginia University Mountaineers basketball squad.

Early Life

Alex Ruoff attended Central High in Florida, where he lettered in basketball. As a senior, Ruoff averaged 30 points and 12 rebounds before injuring his leg in December. Among other accolades, Ruoff earned all-state honors, county player of the year, and was nominated as a McDonald's All-American. He holds school records for assists, blocks, and steals.

Collegiate Career

Freshman season

As a freshman, Ruoff played in 21 games, averaging only four minutes in each however. Ruoff scored his first collegiate basket against LSU. He averaged one point per game and .5 rebounds per game.

Sophomore Season

After the highly touted senior class, led by Kevin Pittsnogle and Mike Gansey, graduated from West Virginia, Ruoff took over at the shooting guard position and started every game. Ruoff scored a season-high (and then career-high) 23 points aginst Cincinnati and 11 points and 8 assists against Western Michigan. Against Arkansas, Ruoff tallied 12 points, 5 rebounds, four assists, and four steals. Ruoff then had a team-high 14 points against Notre Dame and 13 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and three steals against USF. He then had a team-high 18 points in the upset victory over 2 UCLA. In the opening round of the Big East tournament, Ruoff scored 21 points against Providence. Then in the NIT tournament, Ruoff had his first career double-double with 15 points and 11 assists against North Carolina State. Ruoff finished the season second in the Big East in assist-to-turnover ratio, only behind teammate Darris Nichols, while his 191 assists was the third most in school history in a season.

Junior Season

With the addition of new head coach Bob Huggins, Ruoff and the Mountaineers began hot in his junior season of 2007. He opened his season up with 17 points, then 22 points against Prairie View A&M. In the 72-74 loss to Tennessee, Ruoff scored 14 points, grabbed 5 rebounds, and dished 4 assists. In the 88-59 victory over Auburn, Ruoff scored a career-high 28 points, also adding 3 steals and assists, and 2 rebounds. He then added 15 points and 5 assists in the victory over Duquesne.

References

Category: 1986 births Category: Living people Category: American basketball players Category: West Virginia University alumni Category: West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball players Category: People from Florida