At long last, Deron Rippey Jr. is heading to Lexington. Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats will host him from October 6–8, and the buzz is loud as ever. Rippey’s visit was postponed twice due to weather issues, but the Brooklyn-born guard is now set to see what the Bluegrass hype is all about.
The Blair Academy star is among only two major guard targets in Kentucky’s 2026 recruiting plans. With Big Blue Madness and Pro Day overlapping his trip, Pope’s timing is perfect. However, Kentucky is one of nine schools still in the running, and as per Rippey’s father, some programs are making big promises to land “Ron Ron” Rippey.
As Kentucky Visit Nears, Deron Rippey Jr.’s Father Reveals Big Promises and Questions Still Unanswered
In a recent interview with KSR+, Deron Rippey Sr. spoke in detail about schools in the running and what Kentucky has been like. “The pitch for Ron Ron has been great,” he said. “Coach (Mark) Pope has been following up, reaching out to him, reaching out to us. The message for Ron Ron is to come and be a point guard at Kentucky.”
Five-star G Deron Rippey Jr. begins his rescheduled visit to @KentuckyMBB today
More on https://t.co/qnfz9CVi01https://t.co/sulYnbaEAU pic.twitter.com/wRpi4UoC0U
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) October 6, 2025
That is huge praise; however, Rippey Sr. wants more than charm and blue-blood prestige. His primary focus is on seeing how Pope plans to use his son. “Looking at the team, it’s about how they’re going to utilise Ron Ron,” he added. “Is he going to come in and have the ball? What’s going to be his role?” That’s where the tension lies.
Schools like NC State, Syracuse, and Texas have already put their cards on the table. As Rippey’s father says, “A couple of schools have already guaranteed that he’s going to have the ball in his hand from day one.” That kind of trust means everything for a guard who made 21 points, four rebounds, and four assists per game at the recent Border League game-winner on NBA TV.
Deron Rippey Jr. in the @brdrleague Finale:⁰
21 Points | 4 Rebounds | 4 Assists | 2 Steals
Led Blair to a win over the #1 player in the country. @CoachMantegna @rippey_deron pic.twitter.com/BMn5dyvzwd
— NJ Basketball (@NJHoopRecruit) October 5, 2025
Rippey is a blur in transition, an explosive athlete who sets the tone on both ends of the floor. He pressures full court, gets over screens, and thrives in chaos. At the Adidas 3SSB circuit, he hit 34% from deep and averaged 16.2 points, 6.4 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. Perhaps his only flaw is the occasional shot selection lapses. Yet, his upside makes up for it, and he could potentially be the name that revives Kentucky’s backcourt.
And that’s precisely what Pope needs. With Jason Crowe Jr. and Taylen Kinney off the board, Kentucky’s 2026 class remains empty. That is an anomaly within the SEC. The Wildcats are hoping Rippey can be their statement commit, but other programs are promising not just opportunity, but ownership.
What Are Other Programs Promising Deron Rippey Jr.?
At Syracuse, head coach Adrian Autry told Rippey he wants him to “come in from day one, push the ball, make people better, and lead Syracuse back to the top.” That pitch is about trust and a rebuilding program that sees Rippey as its floor general. Meanwhile, Texas is taking a similar route under new coach Sean Miller.
The Longhorns are rebuilding, too. In fact, they are a wide-open runway for Rippey to take charge and be the future of their offense. “They’re losing a couple of players, so it’s a great fit with the way that Sean Miller coaches point guards,” Rippey Sr. said. However, the real wild card is NC State.
Imagine a recruiting class of Rippey, Holt, and Stokes #BBN pic.twitter.com/k9ctZrXyFQ
— Kentucky Hoops (@kentuckyhoopsig) October 5, 2025
Will Wade, the Wolfpack’s new head coach, has made it clear he wants Rippey to be the guy. Wade’s reputation for turning programs around, from VCU to LSU to McNeese, lends credibility to his pitch. “They have a big plan for Ron Ron coming in as a freshman and having the ball in his hands,” Rippey Sr. shared.
And with Wade’s proven track record of developing guards and his aggressive NIL strategy, the Wolfpack’s pursuit suddenly feels like more than a long shot. Rippey’s aggressive defence, fast pace, and playmaking instincts would thrive in Wade’s up-tempo system. And with his Adidas AAU ties, NC State’s potential NIL advantages could tip the scales. Still, Kentucky remains a factor.
Deron Rippey Jr. led Blair Academy to a 62-61 win over Tyran Stokes and the Blue Knights on Saturday in Las Vegas.
➡️ https://t.co/YusU4DzleQpic.twitter.com/ufVhgIZuda
— KSR (@KSRonX) October 5, 2025
Rippey Sr. said he wants to see the facilities, meet the staff, and understand what Kentucky has to offer beyond its reputation. “You hear so much about the University of Kentucky. Now, you get the chance to see it and be present,” he said. “I want my wife and Ron Ron to get a feel for it.” That feel could make all the difference.
While other schools are selling guaranteed roles, Kentucky is selling a legacy of greatness and the chance to be the next great Wildcat guard to lead a championship run. Pope’s impact here will be critical because Rippey’s schedule doesn’t slow down after Kentucky.
Soon after, Rippey has visits lined up to Duke, Tennessee, and NC State. A decision timeline isn’t set, but the family plans to narrow down to a top five soon. Until then, every visit matters. Rippey Sr. didn’t stop praising the other schools courting his son, each with its unique pitch.
Miami and Tennessee are Also In the Running for Deron Rippey Jr.
Miami, led by first-year head coach Jai Lucas, has made a significant impression on the family through his vision of “impact.” “They’re trying to get Miami back,” Rippey Sr. said, describing the Hurricanes as a program ready to hand over the keys to the 6’2 guard. North Carolina’s message struck a similar note, centered on history and restoration.
Pro Insight Player Spotlight 🔦
👤 Deron Rippey, Jr.
🏀 @BlairAcademyMBB
🎓2026
📍#BorderLeague
💡Led his team to a hard-fought 2-0 showing in Vegas, with gritty wins over RWE and Blue Knights. Consistently impacts the game on both ends and when he’s on the floor, his team… pic.twitter.com/AYaNFxrKgT
— Pro Insight (@_proinsight) October 5, 2025
“Come in, get the ball, and help lead,” he said, summarising UNC’s desire to get back to the powerhouse level that North Carolina used to be.” In Rippey Sr.’s eyes, both schools offer early opportunity and the challenge of reviving tradition-rich programmes that have recently fallen short. Additionally, Tennessee has an advantage.
Tennessee is on the list not just for its pedigree under Rick Barnes, but because of the personal ties. Rippey Sr. pointed out that Zakai Zeigler played in the same New Heights Lightning organisation as Ron Ron. “He’s a New York guard from Long Island. He had a great career,” Rippey Sr. said, noting that Tennessee “really knows what they want” in a floor general.
Now, the only question is, what is Deron Rippey Jr. looking for in a school?
And as Rippey Sr. puts it, the goal is simple: “He wants to win in the conference, regular season, and then go to the NCAA Tournament and go to the national championship.” The recruitment battle is on, and with big promises already on the table elsewhere, Mark Pope will need more than charm to make Lexington feel like home.
