Five-star point guard Deron Rippey Jr. is set to make his college decision on Tuesday, Dec. 30 at 4 p.m. ET-and it’s a big one.
The New Jersey native has narrowed his list to five programs: Duke, Miami, NC State, Tennessee, and Texas. Each school is hoping to land one of the most dynamic floor generals in the 2026 recruiting class.
Rippey isn’t just another highly touted recruit-he’s the top-ranked point guard in the class and the No. 12 overall player in the 2026 cycle, per the 247Sports Composite. He’s also the top prep player in New Jersey, a state known for producing gritty, high-IQ guards. His game is built on speed, vision, and a feel for the moment that separates elite point guards from the rest.
Since August, Rippey has been on the move, taking official visits to a who’s who of college basketball: Miami, North Carolina, Kentucky, Texas, Syracuse, Duke, Tennessee, and NC State. But as decision day approaches, he’s whittled that list down, eliminating Kentucky, North Carolina, and Syracuse. That leaves five programs still in the hunt, each with its own pitch-and its own need-for a player like Rippey.
Tennessee, in particular, has made Rippey a top priority. He visited Knoxville in late October during the Vols’ exhibition matchup with Duke, a game that gave him a front-row seat to the intensity and atmosphere of Rick Barnes’ program. And with Tennessee already having signed three players in the early period-four-star wing Ralph Scott, four-star guard Manny Green, and three-star point guard Marquis Clark-Rippey would be the crown jewel of their 2026 class.
The Vols are in a transitional spot at point guard. Ja’Kobi Gillespie, their current starter, is set to graduate after this season.
While the staff is high on Clark, they see him as a long-term piece rather than someone who’s ready to take the reins from day one. That’s why Rippey’s recruitment carries extra weight.
He’s not just a high-upside talent-he’s a potential immediate impact player at a position of need.
Tennessee had also been in the mix for another five-star point guard, Miles Sadler, but the Canadian standout committed to West Virginia in November. That leaves Rippey as the Vols’ top remaining target in the 2026 cycle. If they miss on him, the staff may pivot to the transfer portal, where they struck gold last offseason with Gillespie.
As it stands, Tennessee’s 2026 class is ranked No. 17 nationally and No. 5 in the SEC. Adding Rippey would vault them even higher and give the Vols a true floor general to build around for the future.
For now, all eyes turn to Tuesday afternoon, when Rippey will reveal where he’s taking his talents. Wherever he lands, he’s expected to be a game-changer from day one.