Phenom Hoops and Patrick O’Brien were on the sidelines not long ago for the US Open Club Championships, bringing some of the top young talent to the courts from all over the country. Getting a chance to watch some of the young premier talents, one player that stole the show and impressed many was 2026 6’2 Deron Rippey Jr.
At the event, I had this to say about his game:
“Rippey Jr. is regarded as one of the top point guards in the country and he had college coaches watching all week including big names like UConn and company. Rippey Jr. has an incredible feel for the game in how to run the show and lead a team. He has an incredible feel with the ball in his hands, showing shiftiness and creativity, and also being a strong finisher as a guard. Rippey not only can be a three-level scorer but his poise and playmaking as a point guard is special. I loved his impact out in transition, his ability to finish strong, and also being such a creator for others. One of the best guards at the event and in the country.”
When talking about his game, Rippey is one that immediately grabs your attention. The 6’2 point guard knows how to run the show and do so effectively, displaying an excellent feel, court awareness, and playmaking with the ball in his hands. Rippey is so shifty yet strong on the court, to go along with impressive athleticism as a guard. He creates well with the ball in his hands, and excels in transition, but also shows poise within the halfcourt offense. Rippey thrived as a scorer on several occasions, finishing strong through and around defenders, getting paint touches consistently, but also doing a great job in being a 3-level scorer. Rippey is someone you simply want to have the ball in his hands, and he will make things happen no matter what is needed. And though he is already regarded as a top guard in his class, he backed that up on the national stage and showed why he is one of the elite guards in the country no matter what class.
Recruitment:
Rippey certainly has the attention of college coaches all over the country and deservingly so. Right now, e holds offers from Creighton, West Virginia, Bryant, Maryland, Louisville, LSU, Providence, Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, Villanova, Illinois, Syracuse, George Washington, Texas A&M, Binghamton, LIU, Oklahoma State, St. John’s, Hofstra, Fordham, and TCU.
But that list should only continue to grow this upcoming season and next summer, as several schools that have offered and several others are showing high interest his way. When speaking with his father, he mentioned that Syracuse, St. John’s, Providence, Purdue, Rutgers, Villanova, Illinois, Miami, Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, Michigan, North Carolina, Arkansas, UConn, Kentucky, Duke, Kansas, Seton Hall, and Indiana have been making him a high priority early on.