Michael Malone hasn’t been shy about his plans for the North Carolina program. He said the Tar Heels were going to go out and “recruit the best players in the country.” On Friday, 2027 guard/forward DeMarcus Henry announced his commitment to UNC, offering proof that Malone and his team can deliver on that promise.
“The coaches have recruited me hard since they offered me, following me everywhere,” Henry said of his decision on NBA Today. “I love Coach Malone. I feel like we have a like-minded, winning mentality. He’s won at the highest level and has greatness to him. He emphasized how much he wanted me as a player. To have a coach of that caliber with the same vision that I see in myself means a lot…
“(UNC) is looking for someone who wants to win. Someone who is committed to winning and will do anything to get there. They’ll have a culture changer, someone who will do whatever it takes.”
Henry, a standout at Chandler (Ariz.) Compass Prep who projects as a college guard/wing, is ranked the No. 1 small forward and No. 3 overall player in the senior class by Rivals Industry. The 6-foot-7 left-handed winger, who put up impressive numbers in a variety of settings over the past year, chose the Tar Heels over runners-up Arkansas, Kentucky and Louisville.
“Henry has one of the best motors in high school, which allows him to take on the challenge of guarding the opponent’s top wing, while also being a key player on offense,” Inside said Caroline analyst Sean Moran. “He is a versatile player who looks to attack the basket and get out in transition. He is comfortable with the ball in his hands and has a variety of moves to get into the paint and use his size.”
Compass Prep head coach Pete Kaffey sees a player whose game fits what Malone is trying to build at North Carolina.
“Malone is a professional player and I think his favorite thing is that DeMarcus is a guy who is absolutely going to play in this league,” Kaffey said. “Plus, he’s a guy that fits the way Malone wants to play in terms of defensive effort. He can guard multiple positions and can be a nightmare in terms of matchups. He’s actually elite defensively and he’s one of the best rebounders I’ve ever coached.”
Henry, a Charlotte, North Carolina native who called UNC “one of my dream schools growing up,” became one of Malone’s top priorities in the 2027 class shortly after Malone accepted the job at North Carolina. The Tar Heels had a staff member at almost every one of his games with his Vegas Elite team during the open evaluation periods in May and July. Malone and associate head coach Chuck Martin traveled to Mexico to watch Henry win a silver medal with USA Basketball in the FIBA U18 AmeriCup. UNC also had a coach in nearly every game Henry played with Compass Prep during the high school evaluation periods in June.
The attention came as Henry continued to work to expand his game, which allowed him to move from the Top 20 to the Top 5. “I feel like I just got in the gym and tried to improve in every aspect of my game,” Henry said. “(I’m) trying to get better in my scoring, my threes, my mid-range… (there’s) a whole bunch of different things I’m trying to develop. I got in the gym and I kept working and I kept working, and the work started to show.”
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