The Latest on Five-Star Blair Academy Guard Deron Rippey Jr.
Five-star guard Deron Rippey Jr. from Blair Academy is preparing to narrow his list of college options to five schools, with no immediate plans to commit. As the NCAA Early Signing Period begins, the top point guard in the Class of 2026 is weighing his choices carefully.
Rippey Jr. currently has nine schools on his list:
- Duke
- Kentucky
- North Carolina
- N.C. State
- Miami
- Texas
- Tennessee
- Syracuse
- Louisville
Deron Rippey Sr. shared,
“We are going to narrow out [a] Top Five. [We are in] no rush.”
School Evaluations and Recruitment Insights
Kentucky
Rippey Jr. described his visit to Kentucky as positive, noting their effort to impress him with their program's vision despite the coaching change from John Calipari to Mark Pope. He said,
“They want me to come in and be that starting guy at the point guard position, trying to show people what Kentucky basketball is trying to uphold even after coach Cal left.”
When asked if Kentucky prioritized him in recruitment, he affirmed,
“Yeah, for sure.”
Duke
Duke spoke highly of Rippey Jr.’s unique skill set, highlighting how unprecedented his style is among their point guard recruits. Rippey Jr. noted,
“Duke obviously loves my game. They told me that they never recruited a point guard that had the skillset of mine.”
He is interested in seeing what Duke has planned for him, mentioning their reputation for producing NBA players and referring to the school as a “factory” and a “Blue Blood.”
Summary
Deron Rippey Jr. is methodically focusing his recruitment process on a select few schools without pressure for an immediate decision, as he evaluates offers from top basketball programs.
Author’s summary: Deron Rippey Jr. is carefully narrowing his college choices, valuing playing opportunities and program legacy before making a decision.