AZ Compass Prep 6-foot-7 wing DeMarcus Henry said Michael Jordan told him he wanted to see him in Carolina blue.
“I’m in Carolina blue today,” Henry told the crowd gathered inside AZ Compass Prep’s Chandler gym on Friday, Oct. 30, after announcing his intentions of playing college basketball for the North Carolina Tar Heels, where Jordan played college ball before achieving NBA stardom.
Henry is a 5-star prospect, rated No. 2 overall in the nation in the 2027 class by ESPN. He is rated No. 3 overall by 247Sports Composite.
Henry, who was flanked by family and wearing traditional Tongan skirt called a Tupenu, is from North Carolina. He’s calling this a “full circle” moment. He had narrowed his list of colleges to four, including Arkansas, Louisville and Kentucky.
Henry announced his commitment on his 18th birthday.
He said he is looking forward to being coached by former NBA championship coach Michael Malone, who led the Denver Nuggets ot the NBA title in the 2022-23 season. This is Malone’s first year taking over the North Carolina program.
“Win there and go to the NBA, that’s my mindset,” Henry said. “I feel like (Malone) can prepare me, elevate my game to the next level. I’ll go to college and he can teach me the ways on how the NBA works.”
AZ Compass Prep coach Pete Kaffey calls Henry perhaps the best prospect to come through his program, an electrifying athlete who can play any position on the court, including point guard.
“DeMarcus is a versatle player, who can 1 through 5,” Kaffey said. “He plays the point guard position if we need him to. If we’re going slow, we can throw him at the four spot. A kid who just wants to win and will do whatever it takes to win.”
In the Nike EYBL, Henry averaged 19 points and nine rebounds. He’s the second AZ Compass player this week to commit to a major college out of the 2027 class. Guard Jakyi “Kyi Kyi” Miles, a former Mesa High star, announced on Oct. 27 his commitment to Arizona State.
“Coach Malone, he and I are like-minded, we’ve got a winning mentality,” Henry said to the crowd that gathered. “I can learn from him and pick his brain on my game and how can elevate it. We had a great conversation. I’ll came back home, too, so it’s like full circle moment. I’m very blessed.”
Henry also told the crowd he had a phone conversation with the most famous player in North Carolina history.
“I talked to Michael Jordan on the phone and he wants to see me in Carolina blue,” Henry said.
Richard Obert has been covering high school sports since the 1980s for The Arizona Republic. He also covers Grand Canyon University athletics and the Arizona Rattlers. Please sign up for Azcentral Preps Now newsletter. To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @azc_obert
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Chandler AZ Compass Prep star commits to North Carolina basketball
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