At least one UNC basketball recruiter was in attendance for one of Deron Rippey Jr.’s 3SSB outings in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on Saturday. But the Tar Heels were by no means alone, as the electrifying point guard already enjoys a long list of full-fledged suitors and has drawn a big crowd of college coaches to watch him compete against other premier recruits in grassroots action this weekend.

ALSO READ: Tar Heel Transfer Target Schedules Visits Elsewhere

A 6-foot-2, 175-pound five-star with next-level speed and instincts on the perimeter, Rippey currently checks in at No. 19 overall, No. 5 at his position, and No. 1 among New Jersey prospects on the 247Sports 2026 Composite.

And he played to the level of his ranking — if not better — with well-known faces in the stands on Saturday morning. In his New Heights squad’s victory over Dream Vision, Rippey tallied 21 points, four rebounds, three assists, and four steals, exhibiting the versatility that has contributed to his 12-spot jump in the national rankings since this time last year.

In addition to the Tar Heels, who extended an offer to Rippey back in late December, there were dozens of programs displaying their interest in the Blair Academy (N.J.) junior on Saturday.

According to HS Top Recruits, the crowd included coaches from at least three other bluebloods in Kentucky, Kansas, and UNC’s archrival, Duke, plus another of Hubert Davis & Co.’s Tobacco Road foes, NC State.

Deron Rippey Jr. has neither announced finalists nor a timeline for wrapping up what has become a high-profile recruitment.

Stay tuned to North Carolina Tar Heels On SI for more UNC basketball news.

TransAxle, a New Jersey-based remanufacturer of rebuilt hydraulics, drivetrain components and truck parts, will close all of its locations, laying off more than 200 workers nationwide, including six in St. Paul, according to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

The company, which was founded in 1979, maintains a location in St. Paul that employs a shop manager, mechanic, machinist and team leaders. All six workers will be let go.

In a letter to DEED’s rapid response team, company officer Richard Malagodi said TransAxle attempted to put itself up for sale “for some time” without success, and will instead lay off 80 workers at a dozen locations, most of them on the East Coast, between July 15 and July 29. Another 129 workers will be terminated from its four New Jersey sites in August.

An effort to reach a TransAxle spokesperson for comment on Friday was not immediately successful.

This story originally appeared on 6abc.

The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed a tornado touched down in Atlantic County, New Jersey, during Friday’s severe storms.

The twister was rated as an EF-0, with max winds of 65 mph to 75 mph. It was on the ground for one minute in Collings Lake, causing damage along Malaga Road. Large branches came down, along with metal roof sheeting from a nearby building.

Damage was also reported near the intersection of Cains Mill Road and Colton Lane in Buena Vista Township, where a tree crashed onto the roof. Fortunately, the homeowner wasn’t there at the time – she had been sheltering in place with students at a local middle school during the storm.

On nearby Belwyn Avenue, a house was nearly split in two. The homeowner was inside when the tree fell through the roof. Now she’s searching for her cats.

“When the tree fell, it sounded like a bomb going off,” recalled Al Baker of Buena Vista Township.

The last observed damage in this path was near the intersection of Cloverdale Lane and Wiltshire Drive, the NWS said.

Flooding was also a major concern. At Morelli’s Market in Glendora, Camden County, floodwaters inundated the store along on the Black Horse Pike at 10th Avenue.

“Literally have a foot and a half of water inside of our shop,” said Vinny Morelli.

Despite the widespread damage, no serious injuries have been reported in New Jersey.