Kentucky Misses on Five-Star Wing DeMarcus Henry, Who Picks North Carolina: Three Top Targets Gone in Three Days

Kentucky was a finalist again, and came up short again.

DeMarcus Henry, the No. 1 small forward in the 2027 class, committed to North Carolina on Friday, announcing on ESPN's NBA Today and choosing Michael Malone's Tar Heels over fellow finalists Kentucky, Louisville and Arkansas (via KSR/On3, 247Sports).

Henry is a 6-foot-7 wing at AZ Compass Prep who grew up in Santa Ana, California, but is originally from Charlotte. ESPN ranks him No. 2 overall in the class; 247Sports has him No. 4 and calls him the first top-five prospect to commit to UNC since Cole Anthony in 2019 (via SI, 247Sports).

Kentucky did a lot right here. Mark Pope's staff offered him in the spring during the first Nike EYBL live period, hosted him for an official visit on Oct. 5 and traveled to see him this past week, according to KSR. North Carolina got the last official visit, on Oct. 24, and Henry made his call less than a week later. "I just love Coach Malone," he said on ESPN (via KSR/On3).

Our take: Millogo is now the whole week

This is the third top target to come off Kentucky's board in three days: Lewis Uvwo picked Providence on Wednesday, Reese Alston picked LSU on Thursday and Henry picked UNC on Friday. Kentucky made the final group for all three and landed none of them. Big Blue Nation is going to ask hard questions about Pope's high school recruiting, and it's fair to.

The good news is real, too. KSR reports 7-foot-5 center Cherif Millogo is trending toward UK with a decision possible as early as next week, and he would join top-25 wing Ryan Hampton, Kentucky's lone 2027 commit so far. Five-star shooting guard Adan Diggs still has Kentucky in his final four with a mid-November decision planned (via On3).

Bottom line: one rough week doesn't sink a class, but Kentucky needs Millogo, and it needs Diggs, before this turns into a trend.

Sources: KSR/On3 (Jack Pilgrim) · 247Sports · SI · On3 (Diggs)