UNC basketball recruit DeMarcus Henry picks Tar Heels, Michael Malone
· Yahoo Sports
DeMarcus Henry is the first recruit in the 2027 class to commit to UNC basketball and Michael Malone.
Henry, a Charlotte native and five-star wing, announced his commitment to the Tar Heels on Friday, Oct. 30, during ESPN’s NBA Today show. The 6-foot-7 forward picked UNC over Arkansas, Kentucky and Louisville on his 18th birthday.
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He visited each of those schools, but capped his tour with a trip to Chapel Hill on Oct. 24. Malone, along with associate head coach Chuck Martin and assistant head coach Sean May, visited Chandler Compass Prep in Arizona on Wednesday, Oct. 28.
Son of the late Chris Henry, who was a wide receiver for the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals, DeMarcus has a brother and sister playing sports at Ohio State.
Here's more on Henry and what he could bring to Chapel Hill:
DeMarcus Henry stats, highlights, scouting report for UNC basketball
The No. 3 recruit in the nation, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, Henry is a left-handed wing with the athleticism, length and versatility to be a terror defensively and scorer capable of putting consistent pressure on defenses. He can rack up steals, blocks and rebounds, making him a constant threat without the ball in his hands. Henry averaged 15.5 points and 8.2 rebounds per game last season in Arizona, but elevated his game on the Nike EYBL circuit by averaging nearly 20 points in addition to what he brings as a defender and rebounders. Those skills beyond the box score are what make him a special prospect. Simply put, he’s a stud.
DeMarcus Henry, UNC basketball recruiting class 2027
Malone broke the ice in the 2027 recruiting class by securing the commitment of Henry, who sures up the wing spot as one of the top prospects in the nation. Who could join Henry in committing to the Tar Heels as a 2027 recruit? As of Oct. 30, five-star power forward CJ Rosser seems like the most likely candidate to commit to Malone next. A trio of guards in Beckham Black, Nasir Anderson and Jalen Davis are among the other high-profile players with offers from Malone and the Tar Heels. Getting a commitment from Henry should get the ball rolling with some positive momentum in Chapel Hill.
Rodd Baxley covers North Carolina Tar Heels athletics for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding UNC? Send them to [email protected].
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: UNC basketball recruit DeMarcus Henry picks Tar Heels, Michael Malone