Class of 2026 PG Deron Rippey Jr. (NY/NJ) Offered

[Melancer46]

Yeah I’m with you. The good news is it’s really all driven by the defense which at least gives us logic on our side vs just emotion and optimism. Seeing Bingo run with Gtown and put up 70 gives me even more hope given we could have held them to even less and put up 100 to go with.

Houston is solid but they don’t look like the juggernaut they did last year, Kansas is too one dimensional with Peterson and then even Tennessee looks more beatable. All that said we have to show against Drexel that the defense is legit and can travel and the identity of this team is what we have seen in the first two games on the exhibitions.

Yeah, I definitely want to see if our style of play translates against better athletes but it's been such an incredibly promising start and that's with Kingz not finding his jumpshot yet and George having a mostly bad 2nd game (and obviously JJ missing the 2nd game as well). I came into the season just hoping if everything clicks we could be a bubble team, but these first couple games have me dreaming of being legitimately good.

 

[Orangezoo]

Yeah, I definitely want to see if our style of play translates against better athletes but it's been such an incredibly promising start and that's with Kingz not finding his jumpshot yet and George having a mostly bad 2nd game (and obviously JJ missing the 2nd game as well). I came into the season just hoping if everything clicks we could be a bubble team, but these first couple games have me dreaming of being legitimately good.

Yeah it’s really noteworthy your points on Kingz, George and JJ. Add to that the first game featured Kyle over the top on offense and then game two was a much different look in terms of where points came from.

The defense though both in hedging the screens, helping on drives and staying glued to the shooters all while picking up ball handlers nearly full court is just impressive in terms of execution, especially with what we saw in the exhibitions being far less crisp. If we put the clamps down on Drexel and then hammer Monmouth as well seeing very little cracks in the armor this is going to be the most exciting early season non conference Cuse games in a long time when we get to Vegas.

It would be a cherry on top to see them in these games throw out a nasty couple minutes of zone in to flummox opponents later in those games.

All that said you showcase this kind of intensity and then open court freedom for a PG and slay a couple of top teams or at least one but run with them to the buzzer and that has to resonate with a kid like Rippey.

 

[cuseallday]

I honestly can't believe that I'm at the point now where I feel like we have a real chance of winning these games. They're going to trample on my heart again aren't they?

Totally hear you, my friend. Not saying Syracuse will win those games. But - but - just based on the defense over the first two games, I think Syracuse has a shot. Last year, Syracuse beat LeMoyne by four points, Colgate by two points and Youngstown State in double OT to start the season. This year, SU is allowing 45 points per game and blowing out its opposition. It's a small sample, but I'm just pumped to see how SU fares against elite competition. Of course, my post here just jinxed it. Syracuse will now lose to either Drexel or Monmouth before Vegas, and I should be booted out of this forum.

 

[Sherman20]

Andrew Slater….never liked em

Andrew Slater is so lame. He was a recruiting analyst. But because he spent years talking to high school and AAU coaches and developing relationships with middlemen as “sources,” he somehow got this job and people supposedly “trust” him. He sucks and has one ugly ol mug too. Also, Will Wade is a nasty cheater.

Andrew Slater - General Manager / Chief Strategist - Men's Basketball Support Staff - NC State University Athletics

The 2025-26 season marks Slater's first at NC State as general manager/chief strategist for men's basketball. Slater comes to the Pack from the NBA’s Oklahom...

gopack.com

 

[Cuse99&01]

Andrew Slater is so lame. He was a recruiting analyst. But because he spent years talking to high school and AAU coaches and developing relationships with middlemen as “sources,” he somehow got this job and people supposedly “trust” him. He sucks and has one ugly ol mug too. Also, Will Wade is a nasty cheater.

Andrew Slater - General Manager / Chief Strategist - Men's Basketball Support Staff - NC State University Athletics

The 2025-26 season marks Slater's first at NC State as general manager/chief strategist for men's basketball. Slater comes to the Pack from the NBA’s Oklahom...

gopack.com

Facts on the bolded sentence. Yikes!

 

[Orangefizz]

Agreed. I texted with Deron's Dad again yesterday. Top 5 coming soon. No hints about whether Syracuse will make the cut, but I personally think SU will. But having a good start to this season is extremely important, as many of you have noted! Syracuse beating Houston and/or Kansas would go a long way, IMO...

I think Syracuse having a strong season to get Red off the hot seat plus Nate George having a great year and heading off to the NBA would make Syracuse a very strong option for Deron

 

[cuseallday]

I think Syracuse having a strong season to get Red off the hot seat plus Nate George having a great year and heading off to the NBA would make Syracuse a very strong option for Deron

That's so well said, my friend!!!

 

[Cuse_NYC]

I think Syracuse having a strong season to get Red off the hot seat plus Nate George having a great year and heading off to the NBA would make Syracuse a very strong option for Deron

Pretty happy with George, but he is not an NBA talent

 

[hoopsupstate]

Pretty happy with George, but he is not an NBA talent

I tend to agree. He lacks athleticism and shot making to play at the next level. He’s comparable to Ennis. He’ll get a taste and then sees how it plays out.

 

[bnoro]

Andrew Slater is so lame. He was a recruiting analyst. But because he spent years talking to high school and AAU coaches and developing relationships with middlemen as “sources,” he somehow got this job and people supposedly “trust” him. He sucks and has one ugly ol mug too. Also, Will Wade is a nasty cheater.

Andrew Slater - General Manager / Chief Strategist - Men's Basketball Support Staff - NC State University Athletics

The 2025-26 season marks Slater's first at NC State as general manager/chief strategist for men's basketball. Slater comes to the Pack from the NBA’s Oklahom...

gopack.com

I mean, having sources and being a recruiting analyst definitely qualifies you as a GM in these days. He knows where the top talent is and how to get in touch with them. Will Wade "cheating" was essentially doing what's legal now.

Good for NC State for doing what they needed to do to be successful, I'm not sure why you're so mad about it lol

 

[Cuse_NYC]

I tend to agree. He lacks athleticism and shot making to play at the next level. He’s comparable to Ennis. He’ll get a taste and then sees how it plays out.

Ennis wasn’t the fastest, but still quick. Hence, still a first round pick. And would take over games when we needed him to. I think we forget how friggen good Tyler Ennis was. George a poor man’s Ennis, sure.

 

[sufan59]

Pretty happy with George, but he is not an NBA talent

I don't know. I see a player who is still getting acclimated to this group and is still playing decent basketball. I am so confused on how on how I should feel about the program lol. Not to go to off topic, we have to be cautiously optimistic and take things game by game. I do see some people putting a ceiling on this team, the number of NBA talents on the team, and for good reason, it's unreasonable to expect too big of a jump from last season to this season. I just can't identify any inherent weaknesses with this team yet and I hope I don't. Only areas where they can improve and should improve on overtime.

 

[cuseallday]

I mean, having sources and being a recruiting analyst definitely qualifies you as a GM in these days. He knows where the top talent is and how to get in touch with them. Will Wade "cheating" was essentially doing what's legal now.

Good for NC State for doing what they needed to do to be successful, I'm not sure why you're so mad about it lol

I actually really like Andrew myself.

 

[Cuse_NYC]

I don't know. I see a player who is still getting acclimated to this group and is still playing decent basketball. I am so confused on how on how I should feel about the program lol. Not to go to off topic, we have to be cautiously optimistic and take things game by game. I do see some people putting a ceiling on this team, the number of NBA talents on the team, and for good reason, it's unreasonable to expect too big of a jump from last season to this season. I just can't identify any inherent weaknesses with this team yet and I hope I don't. Only areas where they can improve and should improve on overtime.

George is a good college pg and much better than what we’ve had as of late, but his lack of speed, set shooting (and not a plus shooter), does not translate to the nba.

 

[NYCorange]

I mean, having sources and being a recruiting analyst definitely qualifies you as a GM in these days. He knows where the top talent is and how to get in touch with them. Will Wade "cheating" was essentially doing what's legal now.

Good for NC State for doing what they needed to do to be successful, I'm not sure why you're so mad about it lol

Seriously. GM is basically a combination of talent scout and salesman.

Slater has the eye for talent if we put any stock in him working for OKC, probably the best BB talent evaluators in the world, in talent evaluation.

Sales is 90% about connections, and he's got that. So seems like a home run hire.

 

[FrancoPizza]

Ennis wasn’t the fastest, but still quick. Hence, still a first round pick. And would take over games when we needed him to. I think we forget how friggen good Tyler Ennis was. George a poor man’s Ennis, sure.

I'll forever remember that he killed our fast break and launched the modern era of walking the ball up the court.

 

[orangefog]

I actually really like Andrew myself.

I really liked him in The Munsters.