Tar Heels Earn Share of ACC Title with Powerful Senior Night Win
North Carolina secured at least a share of the ACC regular season championship with a dominant victory over Notre Dame on Tuesday night, capping off an emotional Senior Night at the Dean Smith Center. The evening served as a tribute to the Tar Heels’ veteran players, who were honored in front of the home crowd for their final appearance in Chapel Hill.
The game began tightly contested, but UNC pulled ahead late in the first half with a crucial scoring run, then opened the second half with a decisive 16-0 burst that put the game out of reach. From there, the night transformed into a celebration, with the seniors getting a well-deserved ovation from fans.
With one game remaining — a much-anticipated clash against rival Duke in Durham on Saturday — head coach Hubert Davis took a moment to reflect on what the win and the night meant.
On his team’s focus despite the occasion:
“Our guys have stayed locked in all season,” Davis said. “Tonight wasn’t just about the emotions of Senior Night — they were chasing a championship. It’s been five years since we’ve had that banner, and they wanted it.”
On honoring the senior class:
“Seeing them with their families before the game — it was moving,” Davis added. “Moments like these don’t come around often. Tonight, we got to stop, recognize, and celebrate what these seniors have done for this team, this program, and this university.”
On Armando Bacot’s legacy:
“Armando and RJ have been through a lot — COVID, NIL, the portal — and through it all, they stayed,” Davis said. “Their loyalty and resilience are what define them. That’s why there were tears tonight. They stayed true to Carolina through everything.”
On Cormac Ryan’s contribution:
“The only downside is I only got to coach him for one year,” Davis said of Ryan. “But he’s been our leader — vocal in the locker room, steady on the court. His passion and toughness have left a real impact.”
On Bacot hitting two three-pointers:
“He can knock it down, and I’ve told him he has the green light — when it’s the right time,” Davis said with a grin. “But his dominance in the paint is his bread and butter. That said, it’s good to know the threes are in the toolbox if we need them.”
Duke Basketball Head Coach Checks In on Leading UNC Recruit Target
Duke Rekindles Pursuit of Five-Star Point Guard Deron Rippey Jr. Following Impressive Performance
After a period of relative silence, Duke basketball is once again showing strong interest in one of the nation’s top young point guards. Deron Rippey Jr., a five-star standout from Blair Academy in New Jersey, is back on the Blue Devils’ radar after catching the eye of head coach Jon Scheyer and his staff at a recent high-profile AAU even
The rekindled attention comes nearly a year after Duke first evaluated Rippey during summer events in 2023. At the time, he emerged as a potential target for the Blue Devils, but in the months that followed, there was little visible activity between the two parties. That narrative began to shift this past weekend, however, as Rippey delivered a statement performance that reasserted his status as one of the top guards in the 2026 recruiting class—and seemingly reignited interest from Duke’s coaching staff.
The platform for Rippey’s breakout showing was the Adidas 3SSB (Three Stripes Select Basketball) event in Council Bluffs, Iowa, a major stop on the spring AAU circuit that attracts elite talent and top college coaches from across the country. According to reports from HS Top Recruits, Duke head coach Jon Scheyer was in attendance, watching closely as Rippey took the court for New Heights, his AAU team.
Scheyer was far from the only marquee name in the building. The 3SSB session drew a crowd of high-profile college coaches, including UConn’s Dan Hurley, Auburn’s Bruce Pearl, Louisville’s Pat Kelsey, Texas’s Sean Miller, Texas Tech’s Grant McCasland, and Miami assistant coach Jai Lucas—a former member of Duke’s own staff. Additionally, a large contingent of assistant coaches from powerhouse programs like Kentucky, Kansas, Alabama, Tennessee, NC State, and archrival North Carolina were also in attendance, underscoring the level of talent on display.
With so many eyes on him, Rippey rose to the occasion. He delivered a strong all-around performance, finishing with 21 points, four rebounds, three assists, and four steals to help lead his team to a win. His performance wasn’t just efficient—it was electric. Rippey showcased the speed, command, and defensive tenacity that have propelled him into the upper echelon of his class. His ability to change pace and attack the rim with force, combined with his defensive instincts, made him stand out even among a gym full of elite talent.
At 6-foot-2 and 175 pounds, Rippey brings a dynamic blend of quickness and control to the point guard position. He is known for his ability to push the pace in transition, create separation with tight ball-handling, and make intelligent reads on the move. Defensively, he is disruptive, using his lateral agility and anticipation to generate steals and pressure opposing ball handlers.
Rippey’s recent surge hasn’t gone unnoticed in the recruiting rankings. He currently holds a five-star rating and sits at No. 19 overall in the 2026 class according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. Among point guards, he ranks No. 5 nationwide. That represents a significant rise over the past year, as Rippey has climbed 12 spots—an indication of his growth as both a scorer and a floor general.
While it’s still early in the 2026 recruiting cycle, Duke’s board is beginning to take shape, and Rippey is now emerging as a name to watch. The Blue Devils have been evaluating a handful of five-star talents in the class, a group that includes both elite frontcourt and backcourt prospects. The only player on Duke’s current 2026 list who doesn’t hold a five-star rating is Brewster Academy forward Sebastian Wilkins, a four-star with high upside and the potential to reclassify to the 2025 class. That kind of move could affect how Duke structures its recruiting priorities over the next year.
As for Rippey, the next few months will be critical in determining where he ultimately lands. With attention from blue-blood programs like Duke, Kentucky, and Kansas, and strong interest from regional programs like UConn and St. John’s, his recruitment is set to intensify. Rippey has yet to name any favorites or schedule official visits, but that is likely to change as the summer progresses and more schools begin to solidify their 2026 targets.
Duke, under Jon Scheyer, has continued to emphasize dynamic guard play as a foundation for the program. Since taking over for Mike Krzyzewski, Scheyer has successfully brought in and developed several high-level backcourt talents, and Rippey fits the mold of the modern Duke point guard—athletic, versatile, and competitive on both ends of the court.
Given Rippey’s upward trajectory and the renewed attention from Scheyer and the Duke staff, it’s fair to say that the Blue Devils are seriously considering him as part of their future. Whether that interest leads to a scholarship offer and campus visit remains to be seen, but the events in Iowa suggest that Rippey is once again firmly in Duke’s recruiting crosshairs.
If he continues to play at this level, don’t be surprised if Rippey cements himself as one of the top five targets on Duke’s board—and becomes a name that fans in Durham are watching closely over the next year. For now, the Blue Devils are watching, evaluating, and, once again, making their presence known in the pursuit of Deron Rippey Jr.
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