The race to recruit five-star point guard Deron Rippey Jr. is heating up so fast, and as time passes, the competition is only getting stronger. With elite college programs watching him closely, Rippey Jr. is quickly rising as one of the most sought-after players in the 2026 class.
Furthermore, his latest performances at the 3SSB Circuit have once again proven he’s a game-changer, and even more schools are now in the fight to land him.
The five-star point guard is making serious noise in the 3SSB Circuit. Playing for Blair Academy, he dominated in Session 2 with standout performances that had scouts buzzing.
According to @HSTopRecruiting on Twitter, Rippey Jr. posted solid numbers: 17 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists in Game 1; 21 points, 4 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 assists in Game 2; and 9 points in Game 3.
After that breakout stretch, his recruiting stock has taken off, and college programs across the country are now showing strong interest in the rising star. Rippey Jr. is currently ranked No. 19 overall and No. 5 among point guards in the 2026 class, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.
He recently called UConn his “dream school” and has already visited the campus. Meanwhile, the Duke Blue Devils are making a strong push, with head coach Jon Scheyer personally scouting him.
However, there is still no confirmation on where he will ultimately land. With UConn and Duke in the mix, here are the top five colleges that could be potential landing spots for the rising point guard.
5 Possible Landing Spots Deron Rippey Jr.
2026 5⭐️ Deron Rippey Jr (@rippey_deron) is having a great session 2 of the 3SSB Circuit!
G1- 17pts, 4rebs & 2asts
G2- 21pts, 4rebs, 4stls &3asts
G3- 9ptsHe had HC’s from the following programs in:
Duke
UConn
Louisville
Texas
Texas Tech
MiamiAC’s from the following:
Kansas… pic.twitter.com/INMJA71FOP
— HS Top Recruits (@HSTopRecruiting) May 18, 2025
UConn Huskies
As mentioned earlier, Rippey Jr. has publicly called UConn his “dream school,” which makes the Huskies one of the clear favorites for the young star. With their recent dominance in college basketball and a proven record of player development, UConn offers a system built around strong guard play, potentially making this the best fit.
Duke Blue Devils
But there’s a twist in the script—Duke’s Jon Scheyer has personally scouted him. This shows the Blue Devils are quite serious about the Brooklyn native. The Blue Devils have a long-standing tradition of developing elite guards, and their NBA pipeline could be very appealing for a player like Rippey Jr., who’s aiming to take his game to the next level.
Texas Longhorns
Texas has also emerged as a major contender, with head coach Rodney Terry actively pursuing Rippey. The Longhorns play a high-tempo offense, which could give him the freedom to showcase both his scoring and playmaking abilities.
Kansas Jayhawks
In this recruitment battle, the Kansas Jayhawks are quietly making a push. Known for turning guards into NBA-ready stars, this program could also be a strong landing spot for the 5-star point guard.
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Louisville Cardinals
Meanwhile, Louisville is aggressively recruiting Rippey Jr. The Cardinals offer a chance for him to be the centerpiece of their offense from day one. If he wants immediate playing time and the opportunity to lead a program, Louisville could be a strong option.
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