Ohio State’s shot at completing a Henry family reunion on the hardwood is gone for now.
DeMarcus Henry, the No. 3 small forward in the nation, cut his recruitment to four schools on Monday afternoon and Ohio State was not among them. The finalists are Arkansas, North Carolina, Kentucky and Louisville, and Henry set a commitment date for Friday, Oct. 30.
For a while, the Buckeyes looked like a real contender to land the younger Henry brother. His sister, Seini Henry, is a junior on the Ohio State women’s basketball team, and his brother, Chris Henry Jr., is a freshman on the football team. The family connection made Columbus an obvious landing spot in the eyes of many, especially since all three are the children of former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry, who died in 2009.
But the Buckeyes did not survive Henry’s latest round of trimming. Ohio State was part of his top eight back in July, only to miss the final four when the list came out this week.
There is also a sense that North Carolina may be the team to beat. After a weekend visit with the Tar Heels, many experts appear to be leaning toward Chapel Hill as the likely destination, though nothing becomes real until Henry signs.
Ohio State’s recent addition at the position may have also played a part in how this unfolded. The Buckeyes signed Anthony Thompson, the No. 3 small forward in America, in the latest recruiting cycle, and he is expected to be a significant contributor as a true freshman.
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Ohio State's USC Trip Now Rides On Ryan Day's Toughest Call
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