By ADAM ZAGORIA
Deron Rippey Jr., the 6-foot-2 point guard from Blair Academy (NJ) and New Heights Lightning, visited Syracuse Saturday and will make the short trip to Rutgers on Thursday for the Michigan game.
Rippey saw Syracuse beat Notre Dame, 88-85, on Jim Boeheim Day.
“The Unofficial visit was great!” Deron Rippey Sr. told ZAGSBLOG. “The message is Ron Ron is a part of their plans and [they] want him to come back and take official visits when he can. The coaches will be out to see him play a lot and the back court is sophomores.
“Coach Red [Autry] and Coach [Allen] Griffin are big on Ron Ron.”
Next up is an in-state visit to Rutgers for the Michigan game. Rippey also attended a UConn game last month, and told ZAGSBLOG in December UConn and North Carolina were his “dream schools.” He holds offers from Rutgers, Syracuse, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas A&M and St. John’s, among others. Kentucky has also shown interest. Rippey has taken over the starting point guard role at Blair this season under legendary high school coach Joe Mantegna, who will be coaching South Sudan in the 2024 Olympics. Last Thursday, he went for a career-high 22 points with 5 assists and 3 rebounds as Blair beat St. Benedict’s Prep in the New Jersey State Prep A title game. “He’s adjusting really well, and every week, he seems to be improving,” Mantegna said. “He’s growing up, maturing and playing with a lot of poise.” “He’s exactly the guard you want right now,” Mantegna continued. He can score, he makes some of those dime cross-court passes. Those are passes that sophomores in college are learning to make. He’s a dog on defense and that’s what travels [to the next level].” Follow Charlie on Twitter Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter Follow ZAGSBLOGHoops on Instagram And Like ZAGS on FacebookThanks Coach @CoachRedAutry And @coach_griffin1 For A Great Unofficial Visit. This Weekend Congrats On A Big Win Against @NDmbb #Grateful https://t.co/lHB9dCMIks
— Deron Rippey Sr. (@rippey_deron) February 25, 2024
