Kentucky basketball is turning its attention to one of the top prospects in the 2026 recruiting class, 5-star point guard Deron Rippey Jr. of Blair Academy in Blairstown, New Jersey.
Assistant coach Mikhail McLean is expected to meet with Rippey’s father first before visiting Rippey’s school on Wednesday, his dad told A Sea of Blue, as Kentucky continues its push to secure the talented 6-foot-2, 175-pound
point guard. Rippey recently hosted an in-house visit with Kentucky, his dad said.
Prior to the in-house visit, Rippey had to reschedule his official visit to Kentucky, which is now set for October 3–5, his dad told A Sea of Blue.
The 5-star prospect has narrowed his list of schools from 12 to 10, eliminating Kansas and Louisville. His remaining choices include Kentucky, Duke, Miami, North Carolina, Alabama, Texas, Syracuse, Indiana, Tennessee, and NC State.
Rippey is widely regarded as one of the nation’s top point guards in the class of 2026, known for his quickness, court vision, and scoring ability. Kentucky, which has already built a strong connection with the young guard, will look to impress him during this week’s visit and again during his official visit in October.
With elite talent like Rippey on its radar, the Wildcats aim to continue building a nationally competitive roster under their current coaching staff.
