Since there’s not a Cooper Flagg or Cameron Boozer, this year’s Duke freshman class is probably somewhat underrated. There are some highly promising players in the class though, not least of all Deron Rippey, the subject of the latest Duke Chronicle Player Preview.
Rippey is a tremendous athlete. The author of the Chronicle article, Max Feldman, compares him to Ja Morant. Is his talent on that level?
Well, it’s certainly a high level. From the Chronicle: “What makes Rippey truly special, though, is his elite speed and athleticism — the foundation of nearly everything he’s able to do on the court. Offensively, his quick first step makes him unstoppable, allowing him to aggressively attack the rim using his 40-inch vertical. This gravity also opens up scoring for his teammates: When he drives in, he can use his incredible vision to draw extra defenders and open up additional scoring opportunities. Rippey is perfect for the modern [style] of basketball.”
During the ACC Basketball Tipoff on Wednesday, Scheyer said he wouldn’t shy away from playing freshmen, so we’ll probably see a fair amount from him early.
