Syracuse Basketball: 5-star PG Deron Rippey Jr. erupts in AAU; Duke showing interest

It's proven quite a thrilling past few months for 2026 five-star point guard and top-15 national prospect Deron Rippey Jr. from New York City, who holds a Syracuse basketball offer and is a priority recruit for the Orange in this class.

The 6-foot-2 Rippey, following an award-winning sophomore season, has proven tremendous in grassroots hoops dating back to the spring, while he's performed at an ultra-high level during other showcase events.

This has helped fuel a surge in his 2026 national rankings, along with a significant (and well-deserved) climb in his list of offers and interest from some big-time college programs.

Per recent media reports, Rippey is now garnering interest from blue-blood program and fellow Atlantic Coast Conference school Duke. He also just picked up an offer from Big Ten Conference member Michigan.

Syracuse basketball faces intense competition for 2026 five-star point guard Deron Rippey Jr.

Rippey, who hails from Brooklyn, N.Y., received a scholarship offer from the Orange staff in late August of 2023. He took an unofficial visit to the Hill this past February, on Jim Boeheim Day, and his dad has told me that Rippey is highly interested in going on an official visit to Syracuse basketball down the line.

Assistant coach Allen Griffin is the 'Cuse lead recruiter for Rippey, and Griffin has been in attendance for him during various settings dating back to last fall. Rippey recently told On3 national analyst/scout Jamie Shaw that he's excited to continue growing his relationship with Griffin and the rest of the Orange coaching staff.

Besides the 'Cuse, Rippey's full offer sheet includes schools such as Michigan, West Virginia, Providence, Maryland, Louisville, LSU, Bryant, Rutgers, Illinois, Old Dominion, Oklahoma State, St. John’s, Fordham, Hofstra, TCU, Long Island University, Washington, Texas A&M, George Washington, Binghamton, Georgia Tech, Villanova and Wake Forest.

Heavyweights displaying an interest in Rippey include Duke, Purdue, North Carolina, Virginia, Arkansas, Kansas, Indiana and Auburn, among others.

Rippey is a standout rising junior at the Blair Academy in Blairstown, N.J. Over the spring and summer on the AAU circuit, he has starred for the 16U team of the New York City-based New Heights Lightning in Nike’s EYBL league.

Case in point, not too long ago, Rippey put forth some masterful performances for New Heights Lightning at the MADE Hoops Summer Live event in Harrisburg, Pa.

Last month, Rippey was named a top performer by national analysts and scouts at both a USA Basketball U17 national team training camp in Colorado Springs, Colo., and the National Basketball Players Association ("NBPA") Top 100 Camp in Orlando, Fla. Rippey was named a finalist for the U17 national squad, by the way.

On June 15, college coaches could begin initiating direct communication with rising high school juniors. Understandably, Rippey heard from a ton of suitors once that 2026 contact period opened, including Syracuse basketball.

Within the 2026 class, he is rated five stars by the industry-generated 247Sports Composite. On3 and MADE Hoops have Rippey at No. 15 nationally in this cycle. He's the consensus No. 1 player out of New Jersey in the 2026 class, and Rippey is also a significant contender for the No. 1 national ranking at point guard in his cycle.