Syracuse Basketball: 4-star PG Deron Rippey Jr. from NYC to visit on Jim Boeheim Day

Deron Rippey Jr. from New York City, a 2026 four-star point guard who received a scholarship offer from the Orange last August, will take an unofficial visit to Syracuse basketball on Saturday, Feb. 24, when the 'Cuse will host Notre Dame on Jim Boeheim Day.

Rippey's dad, Deron Rippey Sr., confirmed that his son's unofficial visit to the Orange has been finalized in a phone interview with me on Friday.

The 6-foot-2 Deron Rippey Jr., rated by most recruiting services as a top-40 national prospect and a top-five point guard within his class, is having a stellar sophomore season for his excellent team, the Blair Academy in Blairstown, N.J.

As I noted earlier on Friday, Blair was set to face off against the St. Thomas More School from Oakdale, Conn., on Friday afternoon in an exciting battle at the prestigious Metro Classic in Somerset, N.J. This match-up features Rippey going up against 2025 four-star small forward London Jemison of St. Thomas More, who officially visited the 'Cuse program in late December of last year.

Rippey's dad has been kind enough to share with me in recent months that his son was hoping to get up to the Hill for an unofficial visit, and I'm super glad this trip to Central New York is a go. Deron Rippey Jr., who hails from Brooklyn, N.Y., is a top-flight point guard and overall player in the sophomore cycle.

Four-star point guard Deron Rippey Jr. will unofficially visit Syracuse basketball later this month.

On February 24 at the JMA Wireless Dome, SU Athletics will honor the Hall of Famer Jim Boeheim at a ceremony to recognize the boatload of achievements that he reached in his legendary career guiding the Orange. Last March, Boeheim retired after serving as the head coach of the 'Cuse for 47 seasons.

Now with Adrian Autry at the helm of Syracuse basketball, the Orange coaching staff will welcome Rippey to the SU campus later this month. Assistant coach Allen Griffin is the lead 'Cuse recruiter for Rippey, and Griffin has been in attendance at both a Blair game and one of the team's open gyms in recent months.

To me, Rippey is a five-star prospect and a bit under-ranked for the time being in the 2026 class. On3 currently has him at No. 24 nationally, No. 4 at point guard and No. 3 in New Jersey within his cycle.

Rippey's full offer sheet, besides Syracuse basketball, includes teams such as Old Dominion, Oklahoma State, St. John’s, Fordham, Hofstra, TCU, Long Island University, Binghamton, Mike Hopkins-led Washington, Texas A&M and George Washington.

Some big-time squads, such as North Carolina, Kentucky, 2023 national champion UConn, 2022 national champion Kansas, Arkansas, LSU, Villanova, Seton Hall and Rutgers, are also showing an interest in him, according to Rippey's dad and comments from recruiting analysts.

One of eight 2026 prospects who have received a scholarship offer from the Orange to date, Rippey is an ultra-athletic, three-way scorer who shines on the defensive end and is an excellent facilitator for his teammates.

Last spring and summer on the AAU circuit, Rippey earned high praise from national analysts and scouts as he played at a high level for the 15U team of the New York City-based New Heights Lightning in Nike’s EYBL league.

In early October of 2023, Rippey was a standout at a USA Basketball junior national team minicamp in Colorado Springs, Colo. He's bound to receive many more impressive offers, especially considering that college coaches can't initiate direct communication with 2026 players until June 15 of this year.

While his recruiting process is likely to have a way to go, it's encouraging that Syracuse basketball coaches have gotten involved with Rippey early on, and I'm delighted that he will take an unofficial visit to the Orange soon.