Duke lands prized PG Deron Rippey Jr., third 2026 5-star commitment

Five-star point guard Deron Rippy Jr.. announced his commitment Duke on Tuesday, moving the Blue Devils to the top of the recruiting class rankings.

Rippy preferred John Scheier's program North Carolina State, Tennessee, Miami And Texas. He made official visits to each of his finalists, as well as several other schools, with the presumed favorite changing several times since the summer. But Duke increased the pressure on Rippy as the decline progressed and made him a priority in the backcourt.

“I felt like they fit my style of play,” Rippy told ESPN. “They want to attack both offensively and defensively, and that's what I do best. My aggressive style of play is different. My dream is to win a national championship. Coach John Scheyer recruits high-level talent and teaches those players how to play for each other. That's the only way to win. Their plan for me is to come forward and make an impact to win. I love both.”

Rippy visited Duke in late October and was on campus when the Blue Devils beat UCF in a preseason friendly.

“Duke fans are different,” Rippy said. “The support for basketball is incredible, the education is of high academic standards, and alumni are everywhere.”

Rippy, a 6-foot-1 point guard from Blair Academy (N.J.), is ranked No. 16 in the SC Next 100 and the No. 3 ranked point guard in the country.

Rippy is one of the most explosive players, regardless of position, in high school basketball. He has elite burst in open space and once he gets to the rim, he is a strong, powerful forward who has shown the ability to change pace and make big plays. He loves to paint and make the defense help and rotate. Over the years, Rippy has demonstrated the ability to get past larger defenders through contact with his NBA-level vertical leap and body control, as well as with a pass or lob.

He displays excellent court vision and decision making, and his three-point shooting is also impressive. At the other end of the court, Rippy is a stalwart defender in possession of the ball.

Rippy established himself as the top point guard in the class over the summer as he averaged 15.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2.1 steals while shooting 38.1 percent from 3-point range on the Adidas 3SSB.

He went toe-to-toe with a five-star point guard. Taylen Kinney will open July, finishing with 22 points and 11 assists. On that play, he made a contested three to send the game into overtime, then made a game-tying layup with six seconds left in the game, followed by the game-winning steal and assist on the ensuing possession.

Rippy became the third five-star player in Duke's 2026 class as a runner-up. Cameron Williams and No. 17 Bryson Howard. The Blue Devils also have a four-star center. Maxim Meyer in the fold.

Despite getting off to a late start in the class (Howard didn't commit until late October and Williams committed in mid-November), Duke now sits at the top of the recruiting class rankings, moving from third to first with Rippy's arrival. If the Blue Devils finish the cycle with the top class in the country, it will be the third straight class that Scheier has been promoted to the top group.

“Coach Scheier is a very smart coach,” Rippy said. “He is as in tune with his players on the court as he is off it, which is why Duke's culture and standards are where they are today.”

Duke is still on the list. Jordan Smiththe best independent security guard in the class.