Arkansas basketball coach John Calipari’s three-year chokehold on the nation’s top point guard prospect has come to an end.
In the 2024 class, the crown jewel of floor generals was DJ Wagner. Last season, it was Boogie Fland. This time around, it’s been Darius Acuff Jr., who is off to a better collegiate start than Derrick Rose or John Wall, both No. 1 overall NBA Draft picks.
On Tuesday, however, Deron Rippey Jr., the top point guard in the 2026 class, announced his commitment to Jon Scheyer and Duke. The 6-foot-2, 175-pounder is an athletic playmaker with advanced ball-handling and scoring abilities, and projects as a ready-made lead guard for the Blue Devils.