Duke basketball evaluated Deron Rippey Jr. last summer, but there wasn’t much buzz about the Blue Devils in his recruitment.
This past Saturday, HS Top Recruits reported that Duke head coach Jon Scheyer—now in his fourth year—was among several prominent coaches in attendance at the 3SSB event in Council Bluffs, Iowa, to watch the standout Blair Academy (N.J.) point guard.
The crowd of observers also included UConn’s Dan Hurley, Auburn’s Bruce Pearl, Louisville’s Pat Kelsey, Texas’ Sean Miller, Texas Tech’s Grant McCasland, and Miami’s first-year head coach Jai Lucas, a former assistant under Scheyer. Assistants from powerhouse programs like Kentucky, Kansas, Alabama, Tennessee, NC State, and UNC—Duke’s long-standing rival—were also present.
Rippey delivered a strong performance, tallying 21 points, four rebounds, three assists, and four steals to lead New Heights to victory.
Known for his speed and sharp decision-making, Rippey holds a five-star rating and ranks No. 19 overall and No. 5 among point guards in the 247Sports 2026 Composite. His stock has risen significantly—up 12 spots since this time last year.
As for Duke, its 2026 offer list includes several five-star prospects, along with four-star Brewster Academy (N.H.) forward Sebastian Wilkins, a potential late reclass to the 2025 class.