Five-star forward DeMarcus Henry announced his commitment to the University of North Carolina on Friday, giving first-year head coach Michael Malone his first major recruiting victory on the high school trail.
Henry, ranked No. 4 overall and the top small forward in the 2027 class by 247Sports, becomes the Tar Heels' first pledge in the upcoming recruiting cycle. The 6-foot-7 wing from Compass Prep in Chandler, Arizona, chose North Carolina over Louisville, Arkansas, Kentucky, and UConn after taking an official visit last weekend.
The son of late NFL wide receiver Chris Henry, who died in 2009, Henry also has an older brother, Chris Henry Jr., a five-star wide receiver prospect in the 2026 class now playing at Ohio State.
247Sports Director of Scouting Adam Finkelstein highlighted Henry's defensive upside, noting his size, length, and movement skills make him extremely switchable. He averaged 1.8 steals and 1.3 blocks per game in the EYBL, along with 9.2 rebounds per game (2.9 offensive) in EYBL play and 8.4 rebounds in EYBL Scholastic competition.
Henry is the highest-ranked player in the 2027 class to commit so far. The top three prospects — Beckham Black, CJ Rosser, and Cayden Daughtry — remain uncommitted. This week also saw commitments from Lewis Uvwo to Providence, Reese Alston to LSU, and Asa Montgomery to Duke.
