Syracuse Basketball: Kentucky interest in NYC PG recruit, a future 5-star

Deron Rippey Jr., a fast-rising 2026 point guard from New York City who recently received a scholarship offer from Syracuse basketball, is garnering interest from blue-blood program Kentucky out of the Southeastern Conference.

Adam Zagoria first reported this news on his X page. Rippey’s father, Deron Rippey Sr., confirmed to me via text message that Kentucky is showing interest in his son.

Zagoria also noted that the Wildcats coaching staff plans to watch Deron Rippey Jr. this fall during an open gym at his high school, the Blair Academy in Blairstown, N.J.

To that end, Rippey’s dad has said to me that it’s likely the Orange coaching staff will also check out his son at a Blair open gym this fall. I’ll monitor that for sure.

Syracuse basketball target Deron Rippey Jr. has blue-blood interest.

The 6-foot-2 Rippey, who is from Brooklyn, N.Y., picked up a ‘Cuse offer from assistant coach Allen Griffin not too long ago. Rippey boosted his stock this spring and summer, experts say, as he played at a high level for the 15U squad of the New York City-based New Heights Lightning in Nike’s EYBL league.

More recently, Rippey earned high marks from On3 national analyst Jamie Shaw and other recruiting experts for his performance at the CP3 Rising Stars National Camp in Winston-Salem, N.C.

This past spring, Rippey was one of 18 finalists for the 2023 USA 16U national team after competing at a training camp in Colorado Springs, Colo., and according to a recent post by his dad on X, Rippey has also been invited to a 2023 USA Basketball junior national team mini-camp scheduled for October in Colorado Springs.

His full offer sheet, besides the Orange, includes Old Dominion, Oklahoma State, St. John’s, Fordham, Hofstra, TCU, Long Island University, Binghamton, Mike Hopkins-led Washington, Texas A&M and George Washington.

Rippey’s dad has told me that he and his son plan to take an unofficial visit to Syracuse basketball in the coming months, along with potential trips to other schools such as St. John’s and George Washington.

The contact period for the 2026 class doesn’t open up until June 15 of next year, and I expect Rippey will continue to see his offer list grow before then and definitely after college coaches are able to initiate direct communication with him.

His recruiting process does have a way to go, although Rippey does have high interest in the Orange, his dad has told me. Rippey’s interest from Kentucky is something to monitor, and I’m confident other blue-blood squads will end up pursuing him as well.

According to national analysts and scouts I’ve talked to of late, they project Rippey as a high four-star or five-star prospect. I could envision him making a significant run at the top 25 across the country in the 2026 cycle, if not higher than that.