Kentucky basketball just scored another recruiting win—at least for now. After an in-home visit from Mark Pope and his staff, Deron Rippey Jr., a five-star guard in the class of 2026, has officially included the Wildcats in his list of ten finalists.
The 6-foot-2 point guard out of Blair Academy (NJ)—the same school that produced current Wildcat Otega Oweh—made the cutdown announcement on Thursday, dropping Indiana and Kansas while locking Kentucky in alongside Alabama, Duke, Louisville, Miami, North Carolina, NC State, Syracuse, Tennessee, and Texas.
Kentucky Makes the Right Impression
Pope wasn’t alone on his Brooklyn trip to meet with Rippey. He was joined by Alvin Brooks III and Jason Hart in the all-important recruiting push. On the same day, Duke head coach Jon Scheyer and his staff also sat down with Rippey, signaling just how competitive this battle will be.
Rippey, ranked No. 8 overall and the No. 2 point guard in the Rivals Top 150, spoke highly of Kentucky’s new era under Pope.
> “I love how they kept winning after Coach Calipari left,” Rippey told KSR. “Coach Pope is a high-level coach, a guard’s coach, a savant of the game. I think I’m a high-level point guard that can think the game fast, so playing for someone like him is important.”
What Rippey Wants in a Program
The New Jersey native made it clear he’s focused on opportunity and fit:
Play style – Fast pace, freedom for guards, ability to attack downhill.
Freshman impact – Wants to contribute immediately and help his team win games.
Coaching philosophy – A coach willing to let his guards create and make plays.
That checklist sounds tailor-made for what Pope is building in Lexington.
Upcoming Visits
Rippey has already visited Miami and UNC, but his schedule is packed. His Kentucky official visit is set for October 3-5, a key weekend that could swing momentum the Wildcats’ way. Other visits include:
Alabama (Sept. 12–14)
Texas (Sept. 19–21)
Syracuse (Sept. 26–28)
Kentucky (Oct. 3–5)
Tennessee (Oct. 25–26)
NC State (Nov. 7–9)
The Bigger Picture
Kentucky has loaded its fall calendar with high-profile visits—names like Caleb Holt, Cole Cloer, Maximo Adams, Arafan Diane, and more will all be on campus in the coming weeks. Adding Rippey to that list keeps the Wildcats firmly in the mix for one of the most complete point guards in the 2026 class.
The ball is now in Pope’s court to close the deal, but the early signs are clear: Kentucky is very much alive in the Deron Rippey Jr. sweepstakes.
