NC State has made it very clear they are going to do everything in their power to land Deron Rippey Jr, one of the top, if not the top guards in the Class of 2026. After Dylan Mingo’s visit was cancelled, head coach Will Wade further prioritized Rippey’s official visit.
The Wolfpack took care of business, handling UAB, 94-70. Their defense allowed a similar number of points while their offense once again neared triple digits. In their season opener, they defeated NC Central, 114-66.
Rippey Jr. had a chance to see how Wade runs this team, but more importantly, met one of the team’s other top recruits, Cole Cloer. In fact, Rippey and Cloer have a relationship that could be the key advantage NC State needs in pursuit of the five-star point guard.
NC State Looks For Rippey To Join Their Class Of 2026
The nation’s top point guard, Deron Rippey Jr. is in the building tonight for State’s matchup against UAB. @PackMensBball commit @colecloerr is seated behind him. pic.twitter.com/Uk6PfAnyv2
— Inside Pack Sports (@InsidePackSport) November 8, 2025
Before his official visit, Rippey had a chance to speak with Pack Pride’s Cory Smith. Smith, a key fixture of 247Sports, has kept a close eye on Rippey’s recruiting journey. After visiting Duke and Tennessee at the end of Oct, NC State is set to be his final visit before narrowing down his top schools…