The phone hasn’t stopped ringing at Deron Rippey Jr.’s house this summer. More than 40 offers from elite programs. Official visits to Miami and North Carolina. In-home meetings with Kentucky’s Mark Pope and Duke’s Jon Scheyer. For the 6-foot-2 guard from Blair Academy, the recruiting circus has reached fever pitch.

But while blue bloods circle like sharks, NC State’s Will Wade is making moves that could change everything. The question isn’t whether Wade can compete with basketball royalty – it’s whether he can convince Rippey that building something special beats joining something established.

How Is Will Wade’s Track Record Positioning NC State as a Serious Contender?

Rippey has already completed official visits to Miami and North Carolina, hosted in-home visits with Kentucky’s Pope and Duke’s Scheyer, and kept Duke’s general manager, Rachel Baker, busy. However, amidst this frenzy, NC State’s Will Wade is making a calculated push for Rippey, a move that could define the Wolfpack’s 2025-26 season.

Not so long ago, Dushawn London of 247 Sports took to X and wrote, “NC State head coach Will Wade and Andrew Slater completed an in-home visit with 5-star point guard Deron Rippey Jr.” Despite having an official visit scheduled with NC State on November 07, Wade is making proactive moves to land the 6’2″ guard.

NC State head coach Will Wade and Andrew Slater completed an in-home visit with 5 star point guard Deron Rippey Jr. https://t.co/0Fe0mOXtYw pic.twitter.com/Awj7I3roSl

— Dushawn London (@DushawnLondon1) September 8, 2025

Wade brings the pedigree and pitch to land Rippey. As Jon Rothenstein points out, NC State could be looking at something monumental this season. “NC State hired the right guy,” Rothenstein said. “Will Wade has a history of flipping programs as a head coach. He’s won about 70 percent of his games, led McNeese to its first NCAA tournament win, and captured an SEC regular season title at LSU.”

Rothenstein’s assessment hits the mark. At Chattanooga, Wade transformed a middling program into a consistent winner, posting a 40-25 record over two seasons. At VCU, he kept the Rams competitive, winning 51 games and advancing to the NCAA tournament twice. LSU saw him capture an SEC title with a 105-51 record, while McNeese became a 57-10 team in two seasons and even won its first NCAA tournament game.

Will Wade has flipped multiple programs during his career as a head coach.

NC State’s return to relevance feels like an inevitability.

🎧 https://t.co/c9JLel2QnF (Apple)
🎧 https://t.co/EsZxIkca32 (Spotify) pic.twitter.com/YG5ODaI8vc

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) September 8, 2025

As Rothstein puts it, “If you believe in the head coach, you believe in the chance for a turnaround. The head coach is the starting point.” Now at NC State, a program that struggled to a 12-19 overall record in 2024-25, Wade’s strategy and recruitment could spark major changes. His approach could bring the Wolfpack back into the national conversation, and Rippey could be the catalyst.

Rippey brings his own impressive resume to the table. The guard is known for his explosiveness on the court and thrives in fast-paced systems. Whether it’s applying relentless defensive pressure or creating momentum-changing plays in transition, Rippey’s athleticism and two-way skill set could fit seamlessly with Wade’s approach. Recently, at the Adidas 3SSB circuit, he averaged 16.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. Rippey also hit 34% from the deep at 3SSB.

Wade doesn’t have an easy path with names like Duke, Kentucky, Syracuse, and Tennessee in the mix. However, when the NIL factor enters the equation, the Wade appeal grows stronger. With Rippey’s Adidas AAU ties, NC State can offer strategic NIL advantages, potentially putting them on par with traditional blue blood programs.

Insider Joe Tipton notes that schools like NC State may gain a leg up thanks to creative NIL partnerships. The Wolfpack’s recent struggles on the court might actually be a selling point for a coach of Wade’s caliber. A blank slate, a great player to build around, and a coach who knows how to turn programs around – if Wade lands Rippey, the Wolfpack could become dangerous quickly.