Kentucky’s pursuit of Deron Rippey Jr., one of the premier guards in the class of 2026, is showing no signs of slowing down.
The five-star point guard from Blair Academy (New Jersey) has emerged as a top priority target for head coach Mark Pope and his staff. Just last week, Pope, along with assistants Jason Hart and Alvin Brooks, made an in-home visit with Rippey and his family. Now, according to his father, the Wildcats are expected to check in again at Rippey’s school on either Tuesday or Wednesday.
Rippey’s Thoughts on Kentucky
Rippey already sees the appeal of what Kentucky is building under Pope. Back in July, he told KSR:
> “I love how (Kentucky) continued on the winning program after Coach (John) Calipari left. Mark Pope, I think he’s a very high-level coach, he’s a guard’s coach, he’s just an overall savant of the game of basketball. Using that terminology, I think I’m a high-level point guard that can think the game fast, so being able to play for a coach like that will be important for me.”
That mutual respect has Kentucky firmly in the mix as Rippey maps out his recruitment.
Loaded Visit Schedule
The 6-foot-3 floor general has already been busy with official visits, and more are on the way. His tour of top programs looks like this:
Miami (August 27–29)
North Carolina (August 31–September 2)
Alabama (September 12–14)
Texas (September 19–21)
Syracuse (September 26–28)
Kentucky (October 3–5)
Duke (October 21–23)
Tennessee (October 25–26)
NC State (November 7–9)
It’s a who’s who of college basketball, and Kentucky has positioned itself right in the middle of the fight.
Where He Stands in the Rankings
Rippey is ranked the No. 13 overall prospect in the nation by the Rivals Industry Ranking, which averages across the major recruiting services. Rivals also lists him as the No. 2 point guard and the No. 8 overall player in the 2026 class.
Development and Skillset
According to his father, Deron Rippey Sr., his son has been steadily improving in every area coaches have wanted to see.
> “He’s shooting better and running the point, being more effective as a leader. He’s a playmaker with a high IQ, and he’s improved his defense. Last but not least, his competitive edge. He wants to compete, and that’s why all the coaches and schools are recruiting him.”
That combination of leadership, skill development, and competitiveness is what makes Rippey such a coveted prospect—and why Kentucky continues to stay heavily involved.
What’s Next?
With an official visit to Lexington set for early October, all eyes will be on how Pope and his staff roll out the blue carpet for Rippey. If the Wildcats can make a strong impression during his trip, they’ll have a real chance of landing one of the most dynamic guards in the 2026 class.
