- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,269,167
- Reaction score
- 59
You must be registered for see images attach
GLENDALE, AZ - MARCH 31: McDonalds High School All American West guard Jason Crowe Jr. (5) takes a shot against East guard Deron Ripped Jr. (0) during the 49th McDonald's High School All American Boys Game on March 31, 2026, at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Jon Scheyer has been coaching Duke Basketball since 2022. In that time, his point guards have been Jeremy Roach, Caleb Foster, Tyrese Proctor, and Cayden Boozer, with cameos from Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel.
He’s never had one quite like Deron Rippey, the subject of the Duke Chronicle’s latest new player profile.
Rippey is more like former Blue Devils Jason Williams, Kyrie Irving, and Johnny Dawkins, in that he’s smaller than Scheyer’s typical guard recruits, and highly athletic.
He will join a backcourt rotation of Foster, Boozer, and Wisconsin transfer John Blackwell, with possible appearances by Dame Sarr and Bryson Howard.
This is one of the deepest backcourts Duke has had in a long time, and Rippey is almost certainly the most athletic.
Does that mean he’ll start?
No, not necessarily, but he’s certainly going to play. From the Chronicle: “At 6-foot-3, 185 pounds, his size sits around the average to smaller-end on the spectrum of collegiate and professional point guards. What makes him special, however, and is not measurable, is his physical engine and drive. He possesses a quick first step, has elite handles, holds an excellent vision on the court, and is relentless in getting to the rim and finishing. He can easily make plays in isolation as well…It has been a while since Duke has had a point guard as bouncy as Rippey, and he has already drawn comparisons to NBA stars Ja Morant and Jrue Holiday in his offensive playstyle.”
High praise, indeed.
Like most players this side of Michael Jordan and Larry Bird, he has weaknesses in his game. He needs to improve his shot, and he’ll need to understand what it’s like going against stronger, more athletic players than he saw in high school.
That’ll likely take him some time, but odds are excellent that he and Duke’s staff figure it out.
With such a deep backcourt, look for Duke to crank up the defensive pressure and get into transition a lot. And that’s where he’s likely to really shine.
Go to the DBR Boards to find Blue Healer Auctions || Drop us a line
Continue reading...
