With Michael Malone officially wrapping up the 2026 recruiting class, North Carolina can now turn its full attention toward its 2027 targets. At the top of that list should be 5-star small forward Demarcus Henry, who recently revealed his finalists with the Tar Heels among them. Henry is being pursued by virtually every powerhouse in the country, and for good reason: the talented wing is a total stud.
Recently, there has been growing buzz that North Carolina could be in a strong position to land Henry once he decides to end his recruitment. That’s certainly encouraging for the Tar Heels, but there’s one program that could make things difficult: Ohio State. UNC isn’t exactly accustomed to going head-to-head with blue bloods for elite recruits.
With the greatest respect for the Buckeyes and what head coach Jake Diebler is building, there’s simply no comparison between the two programs when it comes to basketball history. Still, Ohio State has a legitimate shot at landing Henry because of his family ties, which could create a significant obstacle for Malone and his staff.
So, what is the family connection? Henry’s older brother Chris recently signed with Ohio State as a 5-star wide receiver and will play for Ryan Day. The speedy wideout has already been turning plenty of heads in Columbus. Meanwhile, his older sister Seini is entering her redshirt sophomore season with the Ohio State women’s basketball team.
That situation may remind some people of Dylan Mingo, who was once viewed as a UNC lean. After he and Carolina parted ways, it didn’t take long for him to follow his older brother Kayden Mingo to Baylor.
Having two siblings already on Ohio State’s campus is certainly significant, and Henry has acknowledged on multiple occasions that it’s something he’ll take into consideration. Ohio State has also been recruiting him for years, giving the program plenty of time to establish strong relationships. Meanwhile, Malone was only hired earlier this year to replace Hubert Davis, meaning he and his staff are playing a bit of catch-up.
Even so, it’s clear Henry has legitimate interest in potentially playing for the Tar Heels, which is hardly surprising. Since arriving in Chapel Hill, Malone has quickly made an impression with his recruiting efforts, and it appears he’s determined to build on that momentum. He now has his first opportunity to work through an entire recruiting cycle, with several elite prospects in the 2027 class showing interest in UNC.
Henry is certainly one of them. The No. 1 small forward in the country has narrowed his list to UNC, Ohio State, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisville, Kansas, UConn and BYU. Henry isn’t expected to make a decision anytime soon, but a major priority for Malone will be getting the 6-foot-7, 190-pound prospect to Chapel Hill for an official visit this fall.
If that happens, it could only strengthen Carolina’s chances of landing him. Of course, Diebler will undoubtedly be working just as hard to impress Henry when he visits Columbus. This could be a long-term battle for the Tar Heels, and there’s no question Ohio State will be a difficult opponent to beat. If anyone can get the job done, though, it’s Malone.