As 5-star PG Deron Rippey further trims list, Syracuse basketball stays in contention

Deron Rippey Jr., a 2026 five-star point guard from New York City, is down to nine suitors, and Syracuse basketball remains in contention. This doesn't surprise me, by the way.

As first reported by college basketball insider Adam Zagoria on X, the 6-foot-2 Rippey has a top nine of Duke, Kentucky, Louisville, Miami, N.C. State, North Carolina, Syracuse basketball, Tennessee and Texas. In further trimming his list, Rippey has eliminated Alabama, Indiana and Kansas.

Rippey, a top-10 national prospect in the 2026 class per Rivals and the country's No. 1 point guard according to 247Sports, is a standout senior and an All-American candidate at the Blair Academy in Blairstown, N.J. This spring and summer, he starred for the 17U team of the New York-based New Heights in the Adidas 3SSB league.

Earlier this week, the Syracuse basketball staff visited with Rippey and his family at their house in Brooklyn, N.Y., and Orange coaches also checked Rippey out at an open gym at Blair. Per his dad, Deron Rippey Sr., their visit with the 'Cuse went quite well.

Syracuse basketball is heavily involved with 2026 5-star point guard Deron Rippey Jr.

Since offering Deron Rippey Jr. a scholarship in late August of 2023, Orange coaches have been in attendance for him on many occasions, including on the AAU circuit and at other showcase events.

In late February of last year, on Jim Boeheim Day, Rippey went on an unofficial visit to the 'Cuse. Later this month, as I first reported, he will officially visit Syracuse basketball during the same weekend as another Orange 2026 priority recruit, four-star wing/small forward Vaughn Karvala of CIA Bella Vista in Phoenix.

Lately, some national analysts have speculated about potential front-runners for Rippey at this juncture in his recruitment. Suitors that have come up here include Louisville, Miami, N.C. State and Tennessee.

From what I've been told, that chatter isn't accurate. Rippey is still considering all options among his nine finalists. I'm not stating that he will pick Syracuse basketball, but from what I'm hearing, the Orange is very much in the thick of it for this elite point guard from the Big Apple.

Syracuse basketball coaches have put in the work for Rippey, and they've clearly shown him that he's a top priority for the program in the 2026 class. This doesn't mean my alma mater will prevail, but the 'Cuse staff deserves props for its commitment and loyalty to Rippey, as well as his family.