Duke basketball is already building something special with its 2026 recruiting class - and they might not be done yet. Sitting at No. 5 nationally according to 247Sports, Jon Scheyer’s group includes two 5-star prospects, but there’s a chance another elite name could be joining the fold before the year wraps up.
Enter Deron Rippey Jr., one of the most dynamic guards in the 2026 class and a player Duke has been tracking closely for quite some time. The 6-foot-2, 175-pound point guard has set his commitment date for December 30, and he’ll be choosing from a final group of five: Duke, Texas, Miami, Tennessee, and NC State.
Rippey’s résumé speaks for itself. He’s the No. 12 overall player in the 2026 class, the top-ranked point guard, and the No. 1 prospect out of New Jersey, per the 247Sports Composite. And if you’ve watched him play this season, it’s easy to see why.
Just last week, Rippey lit up The Newman School (MA) for 28 points, including six made threes, in a statement performance that had scouts buzzing. 247Sports’ Adam Finkelstein, who was courtside for the game, didn’t mince words - he called Rippey “the best point guard in the country.” That kind of praise doesn’t come lightly, and it’s yet another sign that Rippey’s stock is still climbing.
The Blair Academy (NJ) standout has already made the rounds with his official visits, including a trip to Durham from October 21-23. He also hosted Jon Scheyer for an in-home visit back in early September, and was in the building at Madison Square Garden for Duke’s Champions Classic win over Kansas - a marquee win that surely made an impression.
While Duke and NC State are widely seen as strong contenders in Rippey’s recruitment, there hasn’t been a clear-cut favorite. No crystal ball predictions have come in just yet, which adds even more intrigue as we approach his commitment date.
Rippey isn’t the only high-profile guard Duke is targeting in the 2026 cycle. The Blue Devils are also in the mix for Jordan Smith Jr., another 5-star talent and the No. 2 overall player in the class.
Smith made his official visit to Durham during Countdown to Craziness, alongside current Duke commit Cameron Williams. Shortly after that visit, Smith received a crystal ball prediction to land in Durham - though no commitment date has been set.
With Rippey’s decision coming at the end of the month and Smith still weighing his options, Duke has a real shot to elevate an already elite recruiting class into something even more formidable. The Blue Devils are in the hunt for backcourt dominance, and if things break their way, the 2026 class could be a defining one for Jon Scheyer’s tenure.