North Carolina is sitting in a strong position as the DeMarcus Henry decision clock winds down.
Henry, a five-star prospect and the No. 2 ranked player in the SC Next 100 Class of 2027, is scheduled to announce his college choice on Friday at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN’s NBA Today. His final four includes UNC, Kentucky, Arkansas and Louisville.
The latest buzz has leaned toward Chapel Hill. David Sisk of Tar Heel 247 entered a Crystal Ball prediction for the Tar Heels, giving UNC fans a fresh reason to feel good heading into the afternoon reveal.
That prediction is not a guarantee, though. Henry still has three other programs in the mix, and all of them have made him a priority throughout his recruitment. Until he says it himself, nothing is locked in.
UNC did get the last major chance to make its case. The Tar Heels hosted Henry on his final official visit last weekend, and the trip reportedly went as well as they could have hoped. It even included a call from Michael Jordan.
Michael Malone and his staff have made Henry one of their biggest targets in the 2027 class, and the Tar Heels were the final school to host him in person before his announcement. If they finish the job, it would be a huge early win for Malone and a major building block for UNC’s 2027 group.
There’s also a little symmetry in how this is playing out. Malone has leaned heavily on his NBA background since arriving in Chapel Hill, pitching elite recruits on what the next level looks like. Now Henry will deliver his decision live on an NBA show.
For now, UNC has done all it can do. The Tar Heels have the momentum, the Crystal Ball, and the last impression.
At 3 p.m. ET Friday, the answer finally comes.
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Nyqir Heltons name is getting harder to keep off the field. The true freshman wide receiver made his first career start for North Carolina against Syracuse, and it came because of what he had been doing in practice, not because of a teammates absence. For a young receiver trying to earn trust early in Chapel Hill, that kind of opportunity usually says as much about the week-to-week grind as it does about game day.
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The pressure point for the Tar Heels is obvious, and fans have felt it for weeks. If Edwards Jr. doesnt settle in, the conversation around the position is only going to get louder, especially with Miamis offense threatening in multiple ways and North Carolinas defense already vulnerable against the run and in the secondary. For UNC, this is as much about surviving the moment as it is about trying to keep the season from slipping further. [Read more 🡒]