Tennessee basketball is in the hunt for another elite recruit, this time from the 2026 class. Five-star point guard Deron Rippey Jr. has begun narrowing down his college choices and has scheduled several campus visits for the fall. According to Dushawn London, Tennessee is among the schools in contention and is set to host Rippey in late October.
Tennessee basketball remains aggressive on the recruiting trail, now targeting another elite prospect from the 2026 class. Deron Rippey Jr., a five-star point guard from Blairstown, New Jersey, is set to take multiple campus visits starting in August, with Tennessee among the programs in line to host him. According to Dushawn London, Rippey is scheduled to visit Knoxville in late October.
The 6-foot-2, 175-pound guard is the top-ranked player in New Jersey and the No. 17 overall prospect nationally, per the 247Sports Composite. He was recently named MVP of the Adidas Palmetto Road Championships, further solidifying his status as one of the premier point guards in his class.
Rippey is also planning visits to Kentucky, Miami, North Carolina, Alabama, Texas, Syracuse, and Indiana as he works to narrow down his list.
Tennessee is expected to have a significant need at point guard next season, with Ja’Kobi Gillespie entering his final year of eligibility. Rippey’s speed and defensive prowess could make him a strong candidate to step in immediately and contribute.
Despite the rise of the transfer portal, the Volunteers have stayed committed to high school recruiting. They signed five prep players in the 2025 class, including No. 4 overall prospect Nate Ament. However, Tennessee has yet to secure a commitment for 2026.
With the likely departure of four starters next offseason — Gillespie, Ament, Cameron Carr (formerly listed as Abrams), and Tobe Okpara — landing a player like Rippey would be a major boost as the Vols look to reload.
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