Michael Malone wastes no time hitting the road as UNC's recruiting push intensifies

Wednesday marked a big day on the high school recruiting trail for college coaches across the country.

After being restricted from road trips during the month of August, the gates opened on Wednesday to allow off-campus visits. Days like this serve as a way to see what prospects coaches are prioritizing, especially with the current recruiting class as those particular recruitments start to take shape.

So, you're probably wondering: where in the world was Michael Malone on this important day?

Michael Malone and UNC make their presence felt out West

Both Malone and associate head coach Chuck Martin made the trip out west to Arizona to Compass Prep.

The reason for that stop is an obvious one.

Compass Prep, based in Chandler, Arizona, held its pro day on Wednesday. Of all the talent that the roster features, five-star Class of 2027 forward DeMarcus Henry is the gem that everyone wants to see, including Malone and Martin.

In early July, Henry revealed his eight finalists, a list that includes North Carolina. However, given Duke's recent emergence into his recruitment, it's possible the Blue Devils have worked their way into the mix, giving both UNC and Ohio State (the two programs who have seemingly built the most momentum in this recruitment) another challenger to worry about.

Don't worry- Malone isn't scared of any Blue Devils.

While Henry was the first stop of the visit to Arizona, Malone and Martin also reportedly made time to visit Darius Wabbington and Adan Diggs as well. All three players are expected to make official visits to Chapel Hill over the next few weeks, but Wabbington's October 30th visit date is the only one currently on the public schedule.

The path through the ACC is officially set for Michael Malone and UNC

Malone and Martin were taking care of business out west, the rest of the coaching staff was putting in work elsewhere. Don't be surprised to hear that other members of the coaching staff were making their rounds elsewhere, especially to visit schools that have multiple UNC recruiting targets on their roster.

Over the next few days, expect the Tar Heels coaching staff to appear in multiple locations. They will ensure that they visit the prospects that have not only offered but are heavily recruiting, allowing the opportunity to see other prospects up close as well. Who knows, maybe a recruit or two will burst onto UNC's radar based on what they see on their visits.

These next few days and weeks will really give you a good glimpse of the recruits that have emerged as the ones that UNC have prioritized on the recruiting trail.

Let's face it: Malone is going big game hunting on the recruiting trail and has the financial resources available to make the big splashes he's aiming to make. Now, he'll have to put his recruiting skills to the test to see if he can lure the top talents to Chapel Hill, and it's a safe bet to say that DeMarcus Henry sits near the top of the program's wish list for this recruiting class.

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