Skills clicking for 2024 SR Rkisch Hyppolite against South Carolina squads
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
No matter the level of competition, getting an opportunity to showcase one’s skills is the ultimate difference maker. Make no mistake, when given the shot, said player must rise to the occasion. At Palmetto Preparatory Academy (Columbia, S.C.), Rkisch “Kiki” Hyppolite is making his shot count during his senior run.
Transferring to Palmetto Prep in the offseason, Hyppolite (5-9, 167) has his groove on in the Minutemen’s attack.
“This season is going better than seasons in the past as far as my production,” Hyppolite said. “It is going great. I am linking with my quarterback; I have hit the 20-reception mark, and I am now going to 30. I am making sure I have no drops and I am making sure I am in position to make the play every time; that is what I do best.”
Details of the Minutemen’s offensive scheme was provided.
“We run a Spread with a lot of RPOs,” Hyppolite stated. “Sometimes we run two backs, sometimes we go with an H-back. We have three good backs, they are in rotation, and they get a lot of touches. The most touches I have had this season are five, that was in the first game of the season.”
The sure-handed slot receiver covered his play on the field.
“My IQ is a strength,” Hyppolite shared. “The way I see the field, based off how a defense lines up and how they are standing, I can give you two coverages and what they will do. My IQ of the game is up there. I am a student of the game.
“I am fast, but I am way more twitchy; I’ve always been that way. I workout with Ace Sanders in Bradenton (Fla.), he played for South Carolina and the Jaguars. He’s helped me get to that next level. I can get by people really easily. I am from Florida, I have speed. I am un-guardable. On the field, not too many defensive backs can guard me. It is hard to stay in front of me.
“The first person never tackles me; I make the first person miss. I am quick, twitchy, and I love deep ball plays. I can run every route on the tree. I take pride in being the most versatile receiver on the field. I can play in the slot, on the outside, and I can catch coming out of the backfield. I take pride in being explosive, twitchy, and versatile.”
Beyond being twitchy, Hyppolite has some spring in those wheels.
“An overlooked part of my game is the way I go attack the ball,” Hyppolite said. “I have a 37-inch vertical. I jumped that at NC State last year. I can jump, and I feel that is overlooked. Yeah, I am 5-9, but most receivers can’t make the play at the highest point, but I can because of my 37 vert. No matter the size of the corner, I will go get the ball.”
There’s another trait to Hyppolite’s game that needs to be addressed.
“I am dog blocker,” Hyppolite stated. “Most receivers can’t or won’t block because they feel they have their skill set. I was second behind Matthew Peavley at Venice (High School, Fla.) for pancakes last year.”
The summer college camp circuit helped bring two offers Hyppolite’s way and a whole bunch of interested programs.
“Kentucky Western has offered, and I was just recently offered by Carrolton College,” Hyppolite shared. “They saw me camp this past summer at Yale where I went 13 of 13 (reps). At Brown, I went 10 for 10 and I went 7 for 8 at Dartmouth.
“Throughout the summer I showed I was un-guardable, and it didn’t matter the camp. I went against top DBs at FSU going 5 for 6. At USF, I went 5 for 6. The DBs I was going against, FSU offered them that day. That let me know I am where I need to be, but there is more work to be done.”
Interested parties are spread out east of the Mississippi River.
“Dartmouth, Yale, Brown, USF, Valparaiso, UPenn, New Hampshire, UAPB (Arkansas-Pine Bluff), their offensive line coach just DM-ed me the other day,” Hyppolite stated. “Those schools are showing the most attention and most love.
“I am someone who can help a program immediately. I have a 3.9 GPA; I am eligible to come in this spring. I am not chasing a logo or a certain thing, I just want to play college football and show what I can do.”
After touching campuses over the summer, Hyppolite is getting back on the recruiting circuit this fall.
“I am looking to go to Yale, Dartmouth, and I want to catch a Brown game; their facilities blew me out of the water,” Hyppolite said. “I loved Brown. They showed me the most love. I loved their weight room and their coaches, coach (James) Perry and coach (Willie) Edwards; I’d like to visit again. USF, I am loving them.”
Hyppolite is adding numbers to the stat sheet. The Minutemen have targeted their receiver for 20 receptions covering 355 yards with two touchdowns tallying 415 all-purpose yards.
Last fall, Hyppolite suited up for the Venice Indians for their run to the state championship game.