By R.L. Bynum
DeMarcus Henry, a five-star wing and one of the top three prospects in the Class of 2027, has committed to North Carolina, giving Coach Michael Malone the marquee recruit he has chased since taking the job.
He announced his decision Friday afternoon, on his 18th birthday, from AZ Compass Prep in Chandler, Ariz., during ESPN’s “NBA Today” broadcast.
Henry, a 6–7 left-hander from Charlotte, chose the Tar Heels over Arkansas, Kentucky and Louisville. He trimmed his list to those four schools Monday, after dropping UConn, Kansas, Ohio State and BYU. Duke, which offered him a scholarship on Aug. 15, didn’t make either list.
Henry, who played for the United States’ U18 AmeriCup team in León, Mexico, in June, is the No. 1 small forward and No. 3 overall prospect in the class, according to the 247 Composite rankings. He’s No. 2 overall in ESPN’s rankings.
He is only the fourth consensus top-five recruit to commit to UNC in the last 20 classes (going by ESPN’s rankings), joining Harrison Barnes (No. 1), Cole Anthony (No. 2) and Caleb Wilson (No. 5).
Henry said the persistence of Malone and his staff helped win him over, and he pointed to the coach’s résumé and personality when explaining the decision on ESPN.
“They’ve been recruiting me hard, following me everywhere,” Henry said. “I just love Coach Malone. I feel like we [have a] like-minded mindset, really a winning mentality. He won at the highest level, and he has a greatness to him.”
The commitment gives Malone a cornerstone for his first full high school recruiting class. Henry became one of Malone’s top targets shortly after UNC hired him in April. Malone offered him a scholarship on May 16.
Asked on ESPN which players he models his game after, Henry said he prefers to be his own player and described a style built around versatility.
“I don’t really model my game after anybody. I just try to be myself on the court,” Henry said. “Somebody who can do all the little things that contribute to winning, and someone who can do it all on the court, really versatile. Can play one through four, whatever you need me to do.”
He told Inside Carolina last summer that North Carolina was “one of my dream schools growing up in Charlotte.” He plays his high school ball at Compass Prep. He transferred there from Mater Dei in California after the 2024–25 school year.
North Carolina was the last stop of a recruiting tour that included official visits to Louisville, UConn, Kentucky and Arkansas. Henry came to Chapel Hill last weekend. During that visit, Malone put Henry on the phone with Michael Jordan.
“At the facility, Coach Malone gave me the phone,” Henry recalled in a social-media video. “Said somebody wanted to talk to me. It was Michael Jordan. So, I’m on the phone with Michael Jordan. He said he knew me. So, I’m geeked. That’s crazy that Michael Jordan knows me. He said he’s a big fan of my game, and I was like, ‘Man, that’s crazy coming from Jordan.’ ”
Henry revisited the call during his announcement and admitted the moment got the better of him.
“I was stuttering on the phone a little bit,” Henry said. “He’s a big fan of my game, and he just wants to see me in that Carolina blue.”
Henry has said he was less concerned with money than with finding the program that would push him to become the best player he can be.
On the court, Henry is a long, fluid wing who is still growing into his frame. He has a 6–11 wingspan, moves smoothly for his size, and can slide his feet defensively, giving him a high ceiling as a switchable defender.
247Sports scouting director Adam Finkelstein calls him a “big lefty wing who combines physical tools with an ascending skill-set.”
Inside Carolina analyst Sean Moran describes him as an “athletic, versatile left-handed wing” who looks to attack the basket, run in transition and use his size to get into the paint.
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A Sports Illustrated scouting report called him a willing passer who is comfortable with the ball in his hands and plays bigger than his listed size because he seeks out contact. Babcock Hoops’ Samad Hines wrote that Henry’s “size, length, and defensive versatility” are what could draw NBA decision-makers.
The production has matched the tools. Henry averaged 20 points, 9.3 rebounds and three assists at the NBPA Top 100 Camp in June, where he was named to the first team, then averaged 19.3 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists on the Nike EYBL circuit. He shot 51.2% from the field for Vegas Elite this summer.
A year ago he was No. 22 in the 247Sports composite rankings, and he has since climbed to No. 3.
Athletic talent runs in his family. His late father, Chris, was a football star at West Virginia and played for the Cincinnati Bengals. His older brother, Chris Henry Jr., is a five-star receiver at Ohio State, and his sister Seini plays women’s basketball for the Buckeyes.
Asked Friday whether either sibling tried to persuade him to become a Buckeye, Henry said, “Yes, they did.” He still thanked them for helping guide him, along with his mother.
“I want to thank my brother and sister for being a great role model for me and leading the way for me,” Henry said. “I want to thank my mom for all that she sacrificed to put me in this position that I am today. I wouldn’t be here without her.”
Henry closed his interview with a message for Tar Heels fans and for Duke, and he promised a player focused on one thing.
“They’re gonna get somebody who just wants to win, someone who’s committed to winning and gonna do everything to do it,” Henry said. “They’re getting a culture changer, somebody who’s gonna change the culture, and somebody who’s gonna do whatever it takes.”
UNC targets
Class of 2027 commitment
| Pos. | Stars | Name | Hgt | Wgt | Hometown | Rank * |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | 5 | DeMarcus Henry | 6–7 | 190 | Chandler, Ariz. | 3 |
Other Class of 2027 targets
| Pos. | Stars | Name | Hgt | Wgt | Hometown | Rank * |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PG | 5 | Nasir Anderson | 6–4 | 205 | Fort Lauderdale, Fla. | 10 |
| PG | 5 | Beckham Black | 6–3 | 180 | Orlando, Fla. | 1 |
| CG | 5 | NaVorro Bowman Jr. | 6–3 | 180 | Sherman Oaks, Calif. | 11 |
| CG | 5 | Jalen Davis | 6–3 | 165 | Bremerton, Wash. | 16 |
| CG | 5 | Adan Diggs | 6–5 | 180 | Goodyear, Ariz. | 6 |
| W | 5 | Jordan Page | 6–5 | 205 | Raleigh | 12 |
| W | 5 | DeMarcus Henry | 6–7 | 190 | Chandler, Ariz. | 3 |
| SF | 4 | Asa Montgomery | 6–7 | 195 | Powder Springs, Ga. | 8 |
| SF | 5 | AJ Williams | 6–8 | 210 | McDonough, Ga. | 5 |
| PF | 5 | CJ Rosser | 6–10 | 195 | Orlando, Fla. | 2 |
| C | 5 | Paul Osaruyi | 6–10 | 220 | Scottsdale, Ariz. | 20 |
| C | 4 | Cherif Millogo | 7–2 | 210 | La Canada Flintridge, CA | 36 |
Class of 2028
| Pos. | Stars | Name | Hgt | Wgt | Hometown | Rank* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CG | 5 | Brady Pettigrew | 6–3 | 185 | Bolingbrook, Ill. | 12 |
| SF | 5 | Colton Hiller | 6–6 | 210 | Coatesville, Pa. | 2 |
| PF | 5 | Bentley Lusakueno | 6–10 | 205 | Bradenton, Fla. | 10 |
| C | 5 | Dylan Betts | 7–3 | 230 | Bradenton, Fla. | 14 |
| C | 5 | Yann Kamagate | 7–0 | 230 | La Canada Flintridge, Calif. | 1 |
Class of 2029
| Pos. | Stars | Name | Hgt | Wgt | Hometown | Rank* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SG | 5 | JJ Crawford | 6–5 | 175 | Seattle | 1 |
| C | 5 | Grant Duggins | 6–9 | 215 | Greensboro | 5 |
Photo courtesy of FIBA
