Duke Basketball just made a MAJOR move in the 2026 recruiting race.
The Blue Devils may have gotten off to a late start, but head coach Jon Scheyer and his staff are turning heads once again — this time by pulling a massive surprise with Deron Rippey Jr., the No. 2-ranked point guard in the 2026 class (via 247Sports).
The 6-foot-2 dynamo out of Blair Academy (N.J.) just dropped a bombshell: Duke is now officially in the mix for an official visit this fall.
That’s right — Rippey, who already locked in visits with 10 other blue-bloods like Kentucky, UNC, Kansas, Alabama, and Texas, is now circling Durham on his calendar.
Here’s where he’s headed:
Kentucky: Aug. 1–3
Miami: Aug. 27–29
UNC: Aug. 31–Sept. 2
Alabama: Sept. 12–14
Texas: Sept. 17–19
Syracuse: Sept. 25–27
Indiana: Oct. 17–19
Tennessee: Oct. 23–25
Kansas: Nov. 2–4
NC State: Nov. 7–9
And while Duke wasn’t first to the table, they might just be saving the best pitch for last. Scheyer was recently spotted courtside at a 3SSB event, laser-focused on Rippey’s every move. The message? This is personal.
Rankings don’t lie: Rippey isn’t just elite — he’s No. 16 overall and the top player in New Jersey, according to the 247Sports Composite. Now, he’s aiming to make a decision before the end of 2025… and Duke fans should be watching closely.
Could the next floor general at Cameron Indoor be prepping his visit right now?
“He’s Coming to Durham?” Five-Star PG Shocks Fans With Surprise Duke Visit Plans-Duke’s not done yet — and this rising superstar might be next in line.
