Deron Rippey eyes No. 1 PG status, talks UK offer: "Everyone thinks of Kentucky as Guard University"

First it was Otega Oweh representing Blair Academy (NJ) at Kentucky, is Deron Rippey Jr. next? The top-20 recruit in 2026 picked up an offer from the Wildcats following an impressive week in front of the staff at NBPA Top 100 Camp, then followed it up with a strong showing at USA 19 Training Camp in Colorado Springs with Mark Pope serving as a court coach at the prestigious event.

Ranked No. 17 overall by On3 and No. 3 among point guards, Rippey’s stock continues to rise to the point where he’s viewed as a serious contender to finish No. 1 at his position — and that’s his goal.

He’s certainly putting in the work necessary to do so, he feels.

“Honestly, it’s been great, man,” he told KSR of his recent growth. “I think it’s a token to all of the hard work I put in after my high school season ended. I’m honestly just blessed to keep getting better. I’ve always felt I’ve been working toward that (No. 1 point guard) position. Being in that position now, I feel like it’s no surprise because of how hard I’ve been working. Honestly, it’s something I’ve been striving for and I’m gonna keep striving for it.”

What separates him atop the class among top guards? His do-it-all mindset and ability to contribute to winning even when his shot isn’t falling or he’s not scoring.

“My intensity and my grit. I feel like when I’m not having the best shooting game or best scoring game, I know how to impact the game from different facets,” Rippey continued. “Not to say that anyone else in my class can’t do that, but that’s something I take pride in and I’m willing to show it every time I step on the court.”

His first official visit was to Louisville and he’s got another scheduled to Alabama on September 13. Elsewhere, his recruitment is going nuclear, as expected, with Kentucky, Duke, UCLA and Indiana offers all coming in the last few weeks.

Who is pushing hardest for him at this stage? And what’s next in terms of visit plans?

“That’s always a tough question for me because it’s a lot of schools and I don’t want to leave anyone out, but Miami, Tennessee, Virginia, Duke, Kentucky, Alabama, Texas and Illinois,” he told KSR. “… I’m in the process of scheduling UNC, Miami, Tennessee and a couple others — more on the way. Kentucky will definitely get an official.”

When asked about the Kentucky offer, which came back on June 13, he quickly pointed out the program’s history of putting star guards in the league — his end goal, like most elite recruits.

We just watched Shai Gilgeous-Alexander become the first NBA player in 25 years to win the scoring title, MVP and Finals MVP. That’s a pitch that speaks for itself if you’re the Wildcats.

“It’s honestly a blessing,” Rippey said of the offer. “Like I tell everybody, Kentucky is a great school with many notable NBA guards, so being able to receive offer from them is definitely a blessing. I mean, I feel like everyone thinks of Kentucky as Guard University. They have countless NBA guards. Growing up, it was always fun to watch them.

“Some of my favorite players in the league right now that I like to watch came from Kentucky.”

Visits are on the horizon, but a commitment could be a bit down the road — or, at least until he’s absolutely sure a school is ready to push its chips in on him as the guy. He doesn’t want to pick a coach and program that feels like home now and believes in his talent, only to recruit over him in the spring when the transfer portal opens.

Whether he’s in college for one year or multiple, Rippey is looking for loyalty.

“It’s still in the air because the transfer portal has changed so much. I mean, a lot of schools are going to use the transfer portal, and I just want to make sure that I have a school that’s going to stay loyal to me,” he said. “When I make my commitment, I want it to be the right choice and a place that I can spend multiple years if I don’t decide to go to the NBA.”

That doesn’t mean he has to be the superstar with unlimited shots and 40 minutes played every game, he’s just asking for a chance to prove himself. He’s also wanting a player-friendly system that plays with pace and lets the guards rock out a bit.

“I definitely value play style and definitely my impact on freshman year, role freshman year,” Rippey told KSR. “I feel like I can impact the court any way freshman year, come in and play good minutes to help my team get a couple wins. Definitely a coach that likes to play free and lets their guards play free. I like to get downhill and get others involved, play at a fast pace.”

What will that school be getting in return?

“They’re definitely getting a winner. They’re getting a competitor, a person with great character — and I feel like I can make an impact at a school off the court, as well,” he added. “They’re getting a true point guard and a leader.”

Time will tell if Kentucky is that program after throwing its hat in the ring with an offer earlier this month.