Deron Rippey Jr., Nation’s Top 2026 PG, Announces College Decision
Summary:
Five-star point guard Deron Rippey Jr., the No. 1 prospect in the 2026 class per 247Sports Composite rankings, will commit to Duke, NC State, Miami, Tennessee, or Texas on December 30. The 6’2″ Blair Academy standout has completed official visits to all five finalists, with industry analysts favoring Duke to secure the New Jersey playmaker. Rippey’s decision could solidify Duke’s 2026 recruiting class – already featuring three elite frontcourt commits – as Jon Scheyer seeks his third consecutive No. 1 recruiting class. This announcement carries national implications for ACC/SEC basketball hierarchies and 2026-27 championship odds.
What This Means for You:
- Prospect Evaluation: Scout Rippey’s basketball IQ during his live announcement stream to assess NBA potential (CBS Sports YouTube @4pm ET)
- Recruiting Impact: SEC programs should accelerate contingency plans if Tennessee/Texas miss on Rippey; ACC rivals need defensive schemes adjusted for Duke’s potential 3-guard lineup
- Betting Markets: Monitor FanDuel Sportsbook for immediate adjustments to 2026-27 national championship futures following announcement
- Scouting Alert: High school coaches should study Rippey’s Blair Academy film for modern combo guard development techniques
Original Post:
Dec. 30, 2025, 1:00 p.m. ET
The nation’s top-rated point guard is set to make his collegiate decision between Duke, NC State, Miami, Tennessee and Texas on Tuesday, Dec. 30.
Deron Rippey Jr., the top-rated prospect in the 2026 class and the No. 12 prospect nationally, per the 247Sports Composite, will make his decision at 4 p.m. ET in Brooklyn, New York, streaming on the CBS Sports College Basketball YouTube Channel. The 6-foot-2, 175-pound guard plays high school basketball at Blair Academy for head coach Joe Mantegna in Blairstown, New Jersey.
Rippey Jr. has taken visits to each of his finalists: Miami (Aug. 27), Texas (Sept. 19), Duke (Oct. 21), Tennessee (Oct. 25) and NC State (Nov. 7).
His decision could give Duke its fourth pledge of its 2026 cycle alongside five-star forwards Bryson Howard and Cameron Williams and with four-star center Maxime Meyer. Per 247Sports’ Chad Lykins, Rippey Jr. has a crystal ball prediction to commit to Jon Scheyer and the Blue Devils.
Anna Snyder covers Duke for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at asnyder@usatodayco.com or follow her @annaesnydr on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Extra Information:
• 247Sports 2026 Composite Rankings (Rippey’s official national positioning)
• FanDuel College Basketball Futures (Monitor real-time title odds updates)
• Blair Academy Basketball (Developmental program analysis)
People Also Ask About:
- Could Rippey reclassify to 2025? No credible sources indicate reclassification plans.
- How does Rippey compare to Scheyer’s previous PG recruits? His blend of athleticism and court vision draws comparisons to Jeremy Roach.
- What NBA draft projection does Rippey carry? Early 2027 mock drafts project lottery potential.
- How will NIL factor into his decision? Duke’s Brotherhood collective offers top-tier endorsement infrastructure.
Expert Opinion:
“Rippey’s decision represents a tipping point for modern guard development,” says ESPN analyst Paul Biancardi. “Programs prioritizing positionless guard hybrids like Scheyer’s Duke system now dominate recruiting. SEC/NIL-focused programs must adapt their developmental models or risk falling behind in the portal era.”
Key Terms:
- 2026 college basketball recruiting class rankings
- Five-star point guard Deron Rippey Jr. scouting report
- Jon Scheyer PG recruiting strategy analysis
- ACC vs SEC basketball recruiting battles 2026
- Blair Academy basketball NBA pipeline
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