Deron Rippey Jr. is narrowing his college basketball choices as recruitment activity around him intensifies. Texas recently hosted him, and his father emphasized the importance of these visits amid growing competition after home visits from Duke’s Jon Scheyer and Kentucky’s Mark Pope.
The Longhorns’ coaching staff also traveled to Blairstown, New Jersey, last week to meet with Rippey. He has already visited Texas, Miami, North Carolina, and Louisville, but where will he decide to play?
Deron Rippey Jr. Visits Texas as Top Coaches Make House Calls
Five-star guard Deron Rippey Jr., representing Blair Academy (NJ) and New Heights, completed an official visit to Texas over the weekend. “They want him to come in and start and be a leader!” Rippey’s father, Deron Rippey Sr., told ZAGSBLOG, sharing the message from head coach Sean Miller and his staff.
Rippey has already toured Texas, Miami, North Carolina, and Louisville, with Syracuse set for an official visit this coming weekend. His upcoming official visits are scheduled as follows: Syracuse (September 25-27), Kentucky (October 6-8), Duke (October 21-23), Tennessee (October 23-25), and NC State (November 7-9).
Five-star @BlairAcademyMBB and @NewHeightsNYC G Deron Rippey Jr on his @TexasMBB visit this weekend
@rippey_deron pic.twitter.com/99MMw0TS00
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) September 22, 2025
His final 10-school list includes Alabama, Duke, Kentucky, Louisville, Miami, North Carolina, NC State, Syracuse, Tennessee, and Texas, a group of teams featuring multiple national champions and programs renowned for developing NBA-ready point guards.
Notably, Indiana and Kansas, both of which pursued Rippey heavily, were excluded after the prospect and his family assessed how each program fit his style and needs. For programs accustomed to landing top talent, missing a player of Rippey’s caliber is a significant setback.
On the court, Rippey has demonstrated his impact. As a junior, he averaged 16.2 points, 5.3 assists, and 4.9 rebounds, guiding Blair to a 24-4 record and a Prep Open State Tournament championship. His performance in critical moments shows he can deliver when the stakes are high.
Rippey’s combination of elite defense and an evolving offensive game makes him highly sought after. His length and speed challenge defenders on the perimeter, and his three-point shooting has improved to 42.2 percent. These attributes explain why top programs are eager to have him run their offense.
Still, Rippey is not rushing his commitment. With fall visits still underway, his choice is expected after completing these trips. The home visits from Duke and Kentucky underline the competitive nature of securing one of the 2026 class’s top point guards.
With 10 elite programs still in contention, the coming months will determine where Rippey takes his talents next.
