5-Star SF Reveals College Basketball Powerhouse Among His ‘Dream Schools'

Small forward DeMarcus Henry won't have an easy decision when it comes to making a commitment. He has already narrowed down his list to eight schools, which include the North Carolina Tar Heels, Kansas Jayhawks, BYU Cougars, Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals, Ohio State Buckeyes, UConn Huskies, and Arkansas Razorbacks.

All of the interest isn't surprising, as he's one of the top players in the 2027 recruiting class. At 6-foot-7 and 200 pounds, he is a five-star recruit, the No. 1 small forward and the No. 4 player in the nation, according to Rivals Industry Rankings.

While each of these eight schools has made an impression, some stand out for more personal reasons. When speaking to Rivals' Joe Tipton, Henry stated that the Tar Heels are one of his dream schools.

"The whole coaching staff is reaching out and it means a lot," Henry said. "I grew up in North Carolina so those North Carolina blue bloods are dream schools of mine. I'm grateful for the opportunity to have that and I like what they're doing with their program, building it up. They're going to be a great team this year. I like how they're recruiting me and they're recruiting me hard, giving me feedback on what I need to do. It means a lot."

North Carolina is under new leadership after hiring Michael Malone as its next head coach. Despite spending the majority of his career in the NBA, Malone and his staff have quickly adapted to the demands of high school recruiting.

While the Tar Heels haven't landed any commitments in the 2027 class yet, it's clear that they are making some noise on the recruiting trail. Landing Henry would be a major win for North Carolina.

As a junior at AZ Compass Prep National High School, he averaged 15.5 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 26 games. He also shot 54% from the field and 35% from beyond the three-point line, according to MaxPreps.

With some tough competition, getting him on campus for a visit is key to North Carolina's chances. Henry's only visits so far have been with Ohio State (Aug. 30, 2025) and BYU (Nov. 24, 2025).

Related: Arizona Basketball Gives Coveted 5-Star Recruit Compelling Reason to Choose Wildcats

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This story was originally published July 14, 2026 at 1:09 PM.