North Carolina gets commitment from 5-star recruit DeMarcus Henry, nation's top-ranked small forward

New North Carolina men's basketball coach Michael Malone showed his recruiting prowess, landing a commitment from five-star forward DeMarcus Henry for the class of 2027.

Henry is ranked by Rivals as the No. 3 player nationally and the nation's top small forward out of Compass Prep in Chandler, Arizona. He also received offers from Kentucky, Louisville, Arkansas and Connecticut.

The 6-foot-7 forward is UNC's highest-ranked five-star recruit since Cole Anthony was ranked No. 3 in the class of 2019 . (Caleb Wilson was a five-star in the class of 2020, ranked No. 5 nationally .)

During his junior season, Henry averaged 24 points per game for Compass Prep after transferring from Mater Dei High School in California. This past spring and summer, he scored 19.3 points with 9.2 rebounds per game playing on Team Why Not in the Nike EYBL league.

Henry was also part of USA Basketball 's silver-medal team at the 2026 FIBA U18 Men's AmeriCup.

Here is how PrepRadar described Henry's game in its scouting report:

"Henry fits the profile of a modern wing, a 6-foot-7 forward who can be deployed in several roles depending on lineup and matchup. At small forward, he gives a coach positional flexibility, since he can defend multiple spots and handle the ball in space. On a team loaded with a stretch big, a scoring guard and a combo guard, his role leans toward reading the floor and fitting in. That means cutting, finishing in transition, attacking closeouts and making quick decisions on the catch."

Originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, Henry said he grew up watching UNC and Duke. John Calipari and Arkansas were thought to be the frontrunners in his recruitment, but UNC and Malone apparently convinced Henry during his official visit to Chapel Hill last weekend to be a Tar Heel.

"Their vision for me fits exactly what I'm looking for," Henry told ESPN's Jeff Borzello and Paul Biancardi . "Coach Malone and I are like-minded. He constantly emphasizes chasing greatness, and I really like his winning mentality."

Though Malone goes into his first season at UNC with no college head-coaching experience, his NBA success was notable to Henry. Malone spent 12 years as an NBA head coach, including a 10-year run with the Denver Nuggets that yielded a championship in 2023.

"He won an NBA championship at the highest level, with the best players in the world, and I want to learn from him," Henry added.

Henry is the son of former Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chris Henry. Both of his siblings play college athletics at Ohio State. Chris Jr. is a freshman receiver on the football team and Seini is a sophomore guard on the Buckeyes' women's basketball squad.