By Liam Reilly
@liampreilly852
Basketball has been a part of Deron Rippey Jr. ‘s life ever since he was young. Growing up in Brooklyn, N.Y., Rippey was always spotted outside with a ball in hand. The sport runs in his family, with his father, mother and three of his five sisters having played as well, and Rippey Jr. is now ESPN’s Class of 2026 No.16 recruit
Rippey has played since he was nine years old, but felt uninspired when he first competed. To help this Rippey’s dad, Deron Rippey Sr., woke him up at 6:00 a.m. to play on double-rim hoops in New York City to push him. Now at just 18 years old, Rippey is already accustomed to winning, having won three straight Mid-Atlantic Prep League titles and a state finals his sophomore year with Blair Academy in Blairstown, N.J.
Success has carried on into this season as Blair has raced off to a 14-1 start. The Buccaneers competed in the Panini Hoophall Classic earlier today against TMI Episcopal. Blair played close with TMI Episcopal until its offense erupted in the second quarter, scoring 20 points that concluded with Rippey rising up and throwing down a one-handed slam dunk. Rippey and Blair didn’t look back, and the Buccaneers cruised to a 78-52 win.
Despite being a prep school, Rippey sees Blair as a family.
“It’s a family-like culture,” Rippey said. “I don’t think there’s another prep school in the country like it. It’s a traditional boarding school so we get lots of work, dress code and a lot of diverse students in the community so I think it’s a real place where I can bond with people on and off the court.”
Blair is coached by Joe Mantegna, who is in his 27th year at the helm. Mantegna first met Rippey when he attended Blair’s camps in middle school. Rippey would wake up at 5:00 a.m. in Brooklyn, drive to New Jersey to workout with the team at 7:00 a.m. and attend camp an hour later.
Since then, Mantegna has seen Rippey grow as an effective leader. Through his nearly three decades of coaching, Rippey stands out from the rest.
“He’s a very quick processor,” Mantegna said. “He processes information quickly and he can stay very poised under pressure and it’s been like that since he was 14 years old. Those two things are really hard to teach. People see the dunks, the great plays and the great passes but they don’t see his poise and they don’t see his processing speed.”
Rippey is in his senior year at Blair and has already committed to Duke. His desire to compete at the highest level and to play for a historic program were factors in the 6-foot-1 point guard’s decision.
“They’re going to get an electric point guard, two-way play maker, ability to create for others and just make exciting plays at all times,” Rippey said.
Mantegna believes Duke is obtaining a multi-skill player.
“Duke’s getting a guy that is going to be able to touch the paint at that level,” Mantegna said. “A really good decision maker. Duke’s getting a bit of a dog from New York City who can really defend and a big-brained thinker of the game.”
Rippey will be the third member of his family to play collegiate basketball, as his dad played at East Carolina State and his older sister, De’Naya, plays at St. Peters. Both have given Rippey advice about being physical and competing on both ends of the floor. This advice shines through Rippey’s playstyle, as the senior plays lockdown defense and is explosive on offense.
His mom and dad are Rippey’s biggest role models. Sharing his father’s name, Rippey recognizes the impact he has had on his life.
“It means carrying on his legacy,” Rippey said. “What he did in his life and furthering that in my career and my life.”
In the fall, Rippey will be traveling to Durham, N.C. to compete for the Blue Devils and head coach Jon Scheyer. Although he’ll be almost 500 miles away from home, Rippey plans on bringing Brooklyn with him.
“I want to be one of the ones that come out of the city and provide for my family and put the city on the map,” Rippey said. “Philanthropy is definitely something I want to do in my future.”
Photo Courtesy of Sam MacGilpin/Springfield Student