Top Point Guard Deron Rippey Jr. Commits to Duke

Deron Rippey Jr., a top-rated point guard from Blair Academy in New Jersey, committed to Duke University's basketball program on Tuesday, bolstering the Blue Devils' highly regarded Class of 2026 recruiting class.

The 6-foot-2 senior, ranked as the nation's No. 1 point guard and No. 12 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite rankings, announced his decision during a live stream on the CBS Sports College Basketball YouTube channel. Rippey selected Duke over finalists Texas, Tennessee, Miami and North Carolina State, programs that had mounted aggressive recruitment efforts. Earlier in the process, North Carolina State appeared to hold an edge, with fans chanting his name during a season-opening win over UAB at the Lenovo Center. However, Duke's staff, led by head coach Jon Scheyer, intensified their pursuit in recent weeks, shifting momentum in their favor.

Rippey, who visited Duke in late October and attended the Blue Devils' exhibition victory over UCF, cited the program's championship pedigree as a key factor. "The Duke Brotherhood was the spot for me, because I want to play at the highest levels," he said. "That's always been my dream. When it comes to playing Division I...