Top-Three Recruit DeMarcus Henry Narrows List to Eight, Includes Ohio State

Overview

• Rivals and ESPN moved DeMarcus Henry to No. 3 in the 2027 class and named him the top small forward while the 247Sports Composite currently lists him around No. 5.
• Henry released a final-eight schools list on July 7, 2026 that, according to On3 reporter Joe Tipton, includes Ohio State along with programs such as North Carolina, UConn, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, Arkansas and BYU.
• Ohio State enters the group with a tangible recruiting edge because Henry’s brother Chris Henry Jr. is a Buckeyes freshman and his sister Seini Henry plays for Ohio State’s women’s team, and the program extended an offer in May 2025.
• Henry’s stock rose after transferring from Mater Dei to Compass Prep, leading Compass Prep to the Chipotle Nationals semifinals and posting strong numbers at the NBPA Top 100 Camp, where reports cite averages near 20 points and 9 rebounds.
• The final-eight stage typically leads to official visits and a choice later in the cycle, so the next things to watch are which schools secure visits and how Ohio State leverages family ties and its early offer to convert interest into a commitment.