2026 guard Deron Rippey Jr. set to visit Rutgers on Thursday night
On the court and in the ever-evolving game of life, Deron Rippey Jr.(Blair Academy, NJ '26) has always been a bit ahead of his time. The Class of 2026 point guard, who played an instrumental role in helping spearhead Blair to a Maple League title and more recently a New Jersey Prep A state title. Rippey Jr. first left home at 13 years old, where he attended The Rectory School in Connecticut.
By eighth grade, Rippey Jr. had already developed prodigious vertical leaping ability and was routinely erupting for thunderous transition and in-traffic dunks. The Rectory School taught Rippey Jr. how to be a self-starter. It was where he learned the intricacies of the faster-paced, higher level game under coaches Rob Roy and Quadry Anderson.
Rippey Jr.'s parents, Deron Rippey Sr. and Patricia Rippey have always preached that the power is in the pencils. They are consistently emphasizing the importance of academics and the value of being a well-rounded person first and a basketball player second. Hearing motivational maxims every day and subscribing to themes such as "dedication," "determination," and "driven," Rippey Jr. has a will to succeed that you don't always see out of a 16-year-old kid.
The advanced skill set is evident in only the 6-foot-2, 173-pound Rippey Jr.'s athleticism, smooth stroke and knack for creating space off the dribble. As he's transitioned to a major role at prep national power Blair Academy. The maturation process and Rippey Jr's purity of his vision as a creative playmaker has grown with him.
"He's exactly the guard you want right now," explained the revered Blair head coach, Joe Mantegna during a recent interview with a NYC writer.
"He can score; he makes some of those dime cross court passes. Those are passes that sophomores in college are going to make. He's a dog on defense and that's what travels to the next level."
Rippey Jr. played with savvy and mental moxie of a seasoned player against St. Benedict's Prep in the state title. Rippey scored career-high 22-points, dished out five assists, and grabbed three rebounds as Blair registered a 53-51 victory. Rippey Jr. would explain that he took that game personally, citing it as a true test of who he is and who Blair is.
"I just remember how frustrating it was to lose (to St. Benedict's) last year (in the state title)," said Rippey Jr., who is Rivals.com top-25 nationally ranked point guard in the Class of 2026.
"I'm a winner. I don't like to lose. I can't stand it. I want to win three state championships in three years, that's my goal moving forward into my junior year. I wanted to definitely get revenge from last year's loss. That's just my pride. This rivalry has been going on for 20 years with Coach Mantegna. With us not being able to deliver a state championship my freshman year, I knew I had to get one. But I am definitely striving for more. I am definitely still hungry."
A high honor roll student with a 4.0 GPA, Rippey Jr. was 45-9 during his first two years under Mantegna. He saw meaningful minutes as a freshman, leading the team in both blocks and steals while playing about half the game. He grew immensely as a sophomore, leading the team in multiple statistical categories, including points, assists, steals, and second in blocks. With his close friend, mentor, and co-captain, Bucknell-signee Jayden Williams moving on next year, Rippey Jr. is cognizant that he will inherit some ownership of this program.
Williams, a pit-bull-like, quick 5-foot-11 point guard from the Bronx, won five consecutive Maple League titles during his time at Blair. The challenge of filling the leadership void in his absence is not for everyone. It is a challenge, however, Rippey Jr. is certainly well-prepared and suited for.
"It is pretty exciting stepping into that role as the leader," Rippey Jr. said. "Just solidifying myself as the main guy. The biggest two things I learned from Jayden were leadership and maturity. Coach (Mantegna) really emphasizes staying connected. Coach (Mantegna) always tells us 'stay connected.'. Keep moving, keep the offense flowing."
Rippey Jr. has accumulated offers from Syracuse, St. John's, Washington, Oklahoma State, George Washington, LIU-Brooklyn, Fordham, Binghamton, Texas A & M, Hofstra, and several others. Virginia, North Carolina, Arkansas, reigning national champion UConn, Kentucky, LSU, Notre Dame and Kansas have all expressed interest. He is coming off an unofficial visit to Syracuse.