Syracuse basketball coaches will host 2026 five-star point guard Deron Rippey Jr. from New York City on an official visit this weekend, as I first reported over the summer.
It's a big-time chance for the Orange staff to wow the nation's No. 1 point guard in the senior class, according to the industry-generated 247Sports Composite. Undeniably, the 'Cuse faces steep competition to prevail for Rippey, and analysts are trying to decipher which teams are out in front for the Brooklyn, N.Y.-based floor general.
Based on my ongoing conversations with Rippey's dad, and other intel I have from various sources, the sense I'm getting is that his recruitment remains open, and Syracuse basketball has a legit shot to win out here.
I'm not saying the Orange will ultimately land a commitment from Rippey. I'll, of course, catch up with his dad soon to see how the 'Cuse official visit went. From my perspective, Syracuse basketball coaches have put in an unbelievable amount of work to show Deron that he's the program's top priority in the 2026 cycle, along with five-star shooting guard Jordan Smith Jr. from the Washington, D.C., area.
Syracuse basketball is heavily involved with 2026 5-star PG Deron Rippey Jr.
The Orange staff offered a scholarship to Rippey in late August of 2023. Ever since then, 'Cuse coaches have visited with the elite NYC product on countless occasions over the past two-plus years.
Earlier this month, amid the fall recruiting period getting underway, Syracuse basketball coaches, led by head coach Adrian Autry, conducted an in-home visit with Rippey and his family in Brooklyn and also checked him out at an open gym at his high school, the Blair Academy in Blairstown, N.J.
Virtually the entire Orange staff has been in for Rippey over the course of his recruiting process, including Autry, assistant coaches Allen Griffin and Brenden Straughn, and general manager Alex Kline.
In late February of 2024, on Jim Boeheim Day, Rippey took an unofficial visit to the Hill. Orange coaches have watched him numerous times on the AAU circuit and at other showcases, along with scholastic live periods where the 'Cuse staff was in attendance for Rippey at Blair or other locations.
As college basketball insider Adam Zagoria recently noted, Rippey is down to nine schools. They are Duke, Kentucky, Louisville, Miami, N.C. State, North Carolina, Syracuse basketball, Tennessee and Texas.
Rippey, inside the top 10 nationally per Rivals, is an excellent student and an unselfish teammate. He's supremely gifted, confident and humble. He comes from a great family. As far as I can tell, he wants to play for a college program that will help him develop into an NBA prospect while further preparing him for life off the court.
Rippey is electric in open space, he's ultra-athletic, and I believe he wants to be in a system that enables guards to play freely. I don't have intel regarding how NIL and revenue-sharing might factor into his recruitment, but I also don't think the financial aspect will prevent the 'Cuse from competing with these other suitors.
It's also not clear at this time if Rippey may want to sign with a college squad during the early period this November or the traditional period next spring. He wants to play for a winning program, and it's important for Syracuse basketball to get off to a good start to its upcoming 2025-26 season.
I will continue to keep my ear to the ground on Rippey's recruitment. The Orange staff, I believe, has done everything possible to secure a pledge from this wonderful young man, and we'll just have to see how this all shakes out. I hope that "Ron Ron" and his family have a terrific time in Central New York this weekend.