Tar Heel Surprise: UNC Set to Host Duke Target Deron Rippey Jr. for Official Visit 🧐🔥
The recruiting war between Duke and North Carolina is heating up again and this time, it’s over a rising five-star point guard who’s making waves on the national stage.
Deron Rippey Jr., the electric 6-foot-2 floor general out of Blair Academy (N.Y.), has locked in his official visit to Chapel Hill on August 31st. And yes, that’s before scheduling anything with the Blue Devils despite listing them as one of his newest suitors just weeks ago.
Rippey, ranked No. 17 nationally and No. 2 among point guards in the class of 2026 by 247Sports, is known for his explosive athleticism, lockdown defense, and highlight-reel playmaking. As 247Sports’ Adam Finkelstein wrote in May, “[He has] the athleticism to make momentum-changing plays at any given point, both rising up at the rim or turning on the jets.”
While Duke fans were just beginning to get excited about the possibility of Rippey donning blue and white, North Carolina fans now have a real reason to believe. Hubert Davis and the Tar Heels have a golden opportunity to make a strong impression when Rippey steps onto campus for his first official ACC visit of the cycle.
The elite point guard has also scheduled visits with Alabama (Sept. 12) and Texas (Sept. 19), and his recruitment continues to gain steam with more than 40 schools extending offers. Most recently, NC State jumped into the mix, joining the triangle tug-of-war for the No. 1 player in New York.
Notably, Duke, UNC, and NC State all remain without a single commitment in the 2026 class making the battle for Rippey Jr. even more crucial.
Is Chapel Hill ready to pull off a recruiting steal right under Duke’s nose? Tar Heel fans will be watching August 31st like it’s Selection Sunday.
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