Duke, Texas and Miami among favorites for five-star PG Deron Rippey Jr.

So, which way is Rippey leaning?

Duke Blue Devils feel like the favorite to land five-star PG Deron Rippey Jr.

There's no definitive prediction, but the Blue Devils have to feel good about their ability to land top talent because that's just what they do.

They also put players in the NBA, and that's something Rippey knows all about.

"Duke is great, man. Jon Scheyer just got his extension. They had five NBA draft picks last year, so that’s obviously eye-opening and eye-catching for me," he told Tipton. "You know, being able to go there and potentially have a chance to follow in the footsteps of some of those people that got drafted.”

By that answer alone, it would sound like Duke should be the favorite, but don't count out Miami or NC State either.

Remember, Miami has a Duke connection in head coach Jai Lucas, and that's intriguing to Rippey.

"All the success of Duke’s high-level NBA draft picks, he was sort of like the head of the player development and being in the gym with those guys, being that assistant that had that personal connection with them," the five-star said of Lucas. "So that really stood out to me.”

As far as NC State is concerned, the Wolfpack has a connection to Rippey Jr. in general manager Andrew Slater. He's also confident in head coach Will Wade.

"He’s been watching me since I was a little kid. So that definitely is important to me," he said of Slater.

Prediction: 

NC State has that personal connection. Miami has the up-and-coming head coach. 

This feels like it could go any way, but considering Rippey's statements on Duke and its NBA pipeline, you'd have to imagine the Blue Devils will win this one.