It has been the summer of Rippey here in 2025. The Blair Academy star, Deron Rippey Jr., has arguably been the biggest breakout of the year.
College coaches have been all over the 6-foot-2 guard, but now only 12 programs remain in the mix for the Top-10 recruit.
The 12 programs are North Carolina, Kentucky, Alabama, Miami, Syracuse, Texas, Duke, Louisville, Kansas, NC State, Indiana, and Tennessee.
He recently completed official visits to Miami and North Carolina, in-home visits with Kentucky’s Mark Pope + two assistants, and Duke’s Jon Scheyer, along with general manager, Rachel Baker.
Tennessee’s Rick Barnes and an assistant from Texas also stopped by Blair Academy yesterday.
I asked Rippey Jr. for a recap of his Miami visit and his thoughts on the completed in-home visits with Duke and Kentucky.
The Miami visit:
“It was good. Great staff with a great plan for the up and coming [future] of the program. They gave me their pitch, and it could be a potential system for a point guard like me.”
The Kentucky in-home:
“It felt good. They pitched a system where I can come in and make an instant impact and play fast.”
Duke?
“Pretty much the same pitch. They believe they can develop as they have done with other players, and I can come right in and fit into the culture.”
Alabama visit is up next [Sept.12], thoughts on Nate Oats’ program?
“Yeah, they’ve been consistent. They want to play fast, and they see me coming in to do that.”
What are you looking for in a college program?
“A system that fits me and allows me to play to my strengths while striving to win.”
