UNC picked up a massive recruiting victory on Friday afternoon when five-star talent DeMarcus Henry officially committed to North Carolina.
The No. 3-ranked player in the Class of 2027 chose the Tar Heels over Arkansas, Louisville and Kentucky. It's the first massive recruiting victory for Michael Malone and the new-look coaching staff, a group that needed to make a big splash on the recruiting trail.
After committing to UNC on NBA Today, Henry discussed his decision, citing the major role that Malone's presence played in his decision.
Michael Malone played a huge factor in DeMarcus Henry's recruitment
Essentially from the minute he accepted the job at North Carolina, Henry became a priority target for Malone as he looked to build his first official recruiting class.
Henry felt the love from Malone and the Tar Heels, citing just how much the relationship they've built in such a short time helped impact his final decision.
“I just love Coach Malone,” Henry said right after committing to the Tar Heels. “I feel like we have a similar mindset - a winning mentality. He’s won at the highest level, and he’s got like a greatness to him. He just overemphasized on how much he wanted me as a player, and just him being such a high-caliber coach, and the vision that I see in myself, it means a lot. Just talking to him about the vision and the plan that they have for me, I know they can help me reach my goals.”
DeMarcus Henry has committed to the University of North Carolina 🚨🐏
— Henry Legacy (@TheHenryLegacy_) October 30, 2026
Visit GOAT Access for more behind the scenes on his commitment 🍿@demarcushenry15 pic.twitter.com/iGJcxmEelv
Malone and the Tar Heels pulled out all the stops to land a commitment from Henry, using every trick they had up their sleeve in order to do so. That included a phone call from Michael Jordan, one that resonated with Henry.
“I talked to Michael Jordan when I was on my visit,” Henry said. “It was crazy. Just talking to him, I was kind of stuttering on the phone a little bit. I was shocked, but he said he’s a big fan of my game, and that he wanted to see me in that Carolina blue. That was just a crazy moment. I’ll never forget that.”
Imagine being told by the greatest basketball player of all-time that he wants to see you play for his alma mater? That's quite the compliment!
In the end, UNC got their guy, and Malone's presence and vision for Henry played a huge role in helping accomplish that goal. It serves as a significant commitment for a variety of reasons, not only because Henry is one of the top overall high school basketball prospects.
This signifies a major milestone in the early Michael Malone era, proving that the Tar Heels will bring the best possible talent to Chapel Hill and won't back down from any recruiting battles.
Winning this recruitment battle has officially put the country on notice.
Add us as a preferred source on Google