As the North Carolina Tar Heels begin the 2026-27 season on Monday night, it will kick off a new era under Michael Malone. The head coach took over for Hubert Davis and has built his roster with his new staff.
Last week, Malone and his staff got a big recruiting win when five-star forward DeMarcus Henry committed to the program. He's the first 2027 recruit to commit to UNC, giving the Tar Heels a great start to the 2027 recruiting cycle.
But on Monday, there was even more good news.
Rivals has updated its rankings for the 2027 recruiting class, and checking in at No. 1 is Henry. He jumped from being in the top five to No. 1 overall, a HUGE boost for the Tar Heels.
Demarcus Henry is No. 1 in the 2027 Rivals150. The decision wasn’t automatic. CJ Rosser
& Asa Montgomery both had a legitimate case. Floor vs. Ceiling. Production vs. Projection. Versatility vs. Specialization. What ultimately separated Henry? [Full Breakdown] 👉… pic.twitter.com/5eCDjFUOy5
— Jamie Shaw (@JamieShaw5) November 2, 2026
As Rivals noted above, it was not an easy decision to put Henry over players like CJ Rosser and Asa Montgomery, both ascending as well. Rosser is a North Carolina target and the chance to land both would be huge for the Tar Heels. Montgomery committed to Duke and did take a visit to UNC.
For Henry, his rise comes from his elite play over the past year both in high school and on the AAU circuit.
Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions
This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: North Carolina commit takes top spot in rankings
