The McDonald's All-American Game is the perfect place for schools to see what exactly they are going to get from their incoming recruits. For Duke, they already knew that Deron Rippey Jr. was a star, but his play confirmed it on Tuesday night.
Duke is about to lose some serious stars on its roster next season, starting with forward and potentially Naismith Player of the Year Cameron Boozer. There was no question that Boozer was going to be an elite player for the Blue Devils the moment he stepped on the court, but now he is most likely taking his talents to the NBA, barring something crazy happening.
For the second year in a row, Duke is going to lose its leading scorer after just one season, but don't worry, Blue Devils fans, cavalry is coming, and his name is Deron Rippey Jr. The five-star point guard may not have the size that Boozer has, but his ability to move the ball around to the open man, as well as shoot the ball, will make him the perfect replacement for Boozer.
Deron Rippey Jr. is a point guard Duke hasn’t seen in a long in a time.
— Zion O. (@DukeNBA) April 1, 2026
Explosive pic.twitter.com/PzMb7U3NSN
Duke is going to need a dynamic scorer to help make up for the lost presence of Boozer on the court. Rippey can be that dynamic scorer in many ways. Whether it is getting to the basket himself or opening a shot for others, he is going to bring a lot to Duke.
During the McDonald's All-American Game, Rippey was all over the court with the ball, making insane passes for assists, as well as finding ways to score himself. Rippey's speed and ability to finish at the basket will make him a problem for the rest of the ACC and college basketball world in general.
Deron Rippey Jr. is ready to bring a trophy back to Durham
Deron Rippey Jr. is ready to be a Blue Devil, and the type of mentality that he is bringing to Durham is something not seen everywhere. After the game, Rippey spoke about his excitement about going to Duke and described himself as the perfect player for the Blue Devils.
Rippey is going to do whatever is needed of him to get Duke wins next season, and hopefully bring home that National Championship trophy. Duke has been close the past two years, but maybe a dynamic point guard like Rippey is exactly what the Blue Devils need going forward.