Blue Devil Country

New York Point Guard Enters Duke Basketball Recruiting Radar

The Duke basketball staff is now talking to a newly minted five-star floor general in the 2026 class.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer
Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer / Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
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Brooklyn native Deron Rippey Jr., whose father played a season at East Carolina in the mid-1990s, recently jumped a handful of spots to No. 23 overall on the 247Sports 2026 Composite. In doing so, he achieved five-star status. And with that in mind, it's no surprise that the 6-foot-2, 175-pound guard is now hearing from the Duke basketball coaches, recruiting insider Adam Zagoria reported on Friday.

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Rippey, a rising junior at Blair Academy (N.J.) currently playing for New Heights Lightning NYC in grassroots action, already boasts roughly two dozen offers.

His speed, instincts, and competitiveness on both ends of the floor are sure to attract more suitors. Perhaps the Blue Devils will be among them once third-year Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer begins officially targeting prospects in the 2026 cycle.

"I'm a tough and athletic point guard who forces turnovers and touches the paint and makes the reads from there," Rippey recently explained to On3's Jamie Shaw before naming former Duke basketball one-and-done Kyrie Irving as one of the point guards he likes to study. "I watch a lot of Keyonte George; I really like his game. I watch guys like Kyrie Irving with his ability to get to spots and touch the paint."

Deron Rippey Jr. doesn't appear to be rushing his recruitment, which makes sense given all the new interest he's attracting of late. Evidently, that includes Duke's archrival, UNC.

"I don't have any visits or anything like that set up yet," Rippey told Shaw. "I have been in touch with Arkansas recently, and UNC too."

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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