Five-star point guard Deron Rippey Jr. announced his commitment to Duke basketball on Tuesday, choosing the Blue Devils over finalists NC State, Miami, Tennessee and Texas. The No. 1 point guard in the 2026 class boosts Duke to the top recruiting ranking. Rippey, from Blair Academy in New Jersey, brings elite athleticism and defensive prowess to the program.
Deron Rippey Jr., a 6-foot-2, 175-pound senior from Blair Academy in New Jersey, revealed his college decision during a live announcement on CBS Sports HQ. Ranked No. 12 overall and No. 1 among point guards in the 247Sports Composite for the Class of 2026, Rippey selected Duke after a recruitment that saw NC State as a recent frontrunner before momentum shifted toward the Blue Devils.
Rippey earned Gatorade Player of the Year honors for New Jersey last season, averaging 16.2 points, 5.3 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game. He visited Duke in late October and attended the team's exhibition win over UCF. As described by 247Sports director of scouting Adam Finkelstein, Rippey is "an explosively athletic lead guard who can set the tone on the defensive end," excelling at pressuring the ball and navigating ball-screens. Offensively, his burst allows momentum-changing plays, and he has improved his shooting, making 34% of three-pointers in 3SSB play with cleaner mechanics this season.
This marks Duke's fourth commitment from the 2026 class and third five-star prospect, joining small forward Bryson Howard (No. 13 overall), power forward Cameron Williams (No. 4) and center Maxime Meyer (No. 102). Previously ranked No. 5, Duke's class now leads the nation per 247Sports, surpassing Michigan State, Kansas, Maryland and Purdue. Coach Jon Scheyer's program continues its recruiting dominance, with eyes on combo guard Jordan Smith Jr. as a potential next addition.
