Deron Rippey Jr. is a 6-2 point guard from Blair Academy in Blairstown, New Jersey, ranked as the No. 1 point guard in the 2026 class with 44 total scholarship offers. The Brooklyn native, son of former East Carolina player Deron Rippey Sr., posted a triple-double of 16 points, 13 assists, and 11 rebounds in the state championship game as a junior, leading Blair to the Prep Open State Tournament title and MAPL championship while averaging 16.2 points, 5.3 assists, and 4.9 rebounds. As a senior, he averaged 18.6 points for an undefeated Blair squad. He plays for New Heights Lightning on the Adidas 3SSB circuit, averaging 15.2 points and 5.1 assists while shooting 38 percent from three. The 2025 Gatorade New Jersey Player of the Year and 2026 McDonald's All-American, Rippey committed to Duke on December 30, 2025, declaring that "Duke hasn't seen a point guard like me."