Top-20 prospect Deron Rippey Jr. has been generating significant buzz as his recruitment gains momentum.
Widely regarded as one of the premier point guards in the Class of 2026, Rippey Jr. has drawn strong interest from several elite Division I programs. With his senior year of high school approaching this fall, he’s beginning to narrow down his college options and has scheduled three official visits starting in late August.
His first visit will take him to North Carolina on August 31.
In addition to his upcoming visit to North Carolina, Deron Rippey Jr. is scheduled to head to Alabama on September 12, followed by a trip to Texas a week later as his recruitment continues to heat up.
UNC extended an offer to the 6-foot-2 point guard from Blairstown, New Jersey, on December 30, 2024. Although the Tar Heels had been monitoring Rippey Jr. for a while, his standout performance at the Jordan Holiday Classic — with UNC coaches in attendance — solidified their interest and made it clear he was a priority target.
Since receiving the offer from North Carolina, Rippey Jr.’s stock has continued to rise. He’s climbed four spots in the 247Sports Composite rankings for the Class of 2026, now sitting at No. 17 overall and firmly entrenched as the top-ranked player in New Jersey.
That’s welcome news for Hubert Davis and the Tar Heels, who are in the market for a true point guard to anchor their offense in the near future. Rippey Jr. appears to be an ideal fit — a dynamic playmaker with the skill and vision to lead UNC’s backcourt as a senior and potentially beyond.
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