Ohio State basketball has landed itself on the short list for one of the top names in the 2027 class.
Five-star small forward DeMarcus Henry included the Buckeyes in his final eight, joining Arkansas, BYU, UConn, Louisville, Kentucky, North Carolina and Kansas. Henry revealed the list on his family’s podcast, Henry Legacy. He is ranked as the fifth-best player in the country and the top small forward in the 2027 recruiting class.
The name carries some obvious weight in Columbus. Henry is the son of former NFL player Chris Henry, and he is also the brother of Chris Henry Jr., who is already on the Ohio State football team. Henry Jr. was a five-star recruit himself, and there is a real chance he becomes one of the better receivers on the roster as a freshman.
That family connection could matter for the Buckeyes as Jake Diebler keeps pushing to build a roster with more high-end talent. Henry, listed at 6-foot-7 and 190 pounds, would fit the kind of athletic profile Ohio State is trying to stack in the program.
Diebler has already brought in two five-star recruits for the 2026 class, and the hope is that group helps raise the ceiling in Columbus. Ohio State basketball is still trying to get back to the level it reached under Thad Matta, when the Buckeyes were regularly in the Big Ten title hunt and made two Final Fours and a national championship game.
There was plenty of skepticism when Ross Bjork chose Diebler over Dusty May after Chris Holtmann was fired. Diebler was a first-time head coach, and he has spent the last couple of years learning on the job. May went on to win a national title, while Ohio State is still waiting for postseason breakthrough moments under Diebler.
Even so, the recruiting signs have been encouraging. LJ Smith and Anthony Thompson are two five-star freshmen who should help lift the roster’s upside, and Henry would be another major addition if Ohio State can keep itself in the mix.
NIL will almost certainly be part of the conversation, as it is with most top-end recruitments now. Ohio State is willing to use NIL in basketball, but that cannot be the only thing driving the decision. Diebler will also have the advantage of being able to lean on Chris Henry Jr. as he tries to sell the Buckeyes.
For now, there is no timetable for Henry’s decision.
In Other News...
Jeremiah Smith Is Still Ohio States Biggest Strength And Biggest Concern
Jeremiah Smith has already done enough to be viewed as the top wide receiver in college football, and his 2025 season backed that up in a way few players can match. Pro Football Focus rated him the best receiver in the country, which only sharpened the expectation that Ohio State can keep leaning on him as the centerpiece of its passing game.
The problem is that the Buckeyes are asking Smith to carry a lot while working with a much less experienced group around him in 2026. Much of the pressure now falls on the young receivers behind him to grow up quickly, while Julian Sayin also needs a cleaner, more reliable supporting cast after the disappointing finish to 2025. If that development does not come soon, Ohio State may have to find a different way to build its offense. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State's 2027 QB Pursuit Suddenly Feels Far More Complicated
Ohio States quarterback board for 2027 has started to look less straightforward than it did a few weeks ago. Brady Edmunds is already in the class, but his commitment has not felt completely locked in, and the Buckeyes have also spent time trying to pry Nebraska quarterback Trae Taylor away from his pledge, a sign that the staff is still weighing its options as it maps out the position for the next cycle.
The bigger picture is what makes the pursuit tricky. Tavien St. Clair is expected to be the starter after this season, Julian Sayin is likely headed toward the NFL, and Ohio State is also juggling other recruiting priorities, which could leave the staff leaning on the transfer portal for future depth instead of adding another 2027 quarterback. For now, Edmunds remains the name to watch, but the path from here is anything but settled. [Read more 🡒]