UConn is back in the middle of another high-level recruiting swing, and this one comes with a familiar theme: the son of an NFL name is coming to Storrs.
After hosting NaVorro Bowman Jr. last weekend, the Huskies are now set to welcome Demarcus Henry, the son of former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry, who died in 2009 at age 26. Henry’s visit lands at a moment when UConn’s pitch is about as strong as it gets.
Henry is rated No. 3 in the country by On3 and No. 2 by ESPN. The 6-foot-7 forward plays high school basketball in Arizona and has already built an impressive résumé. Back in July, he listed UConn among his eight finalists, along with Arkansas, BYU, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, North Carolina and Ohio State.
He also helped Team USA win silver at the 2026 FIBA U18 Men’s AmeriCup, where the team went 4-1 before falling to Canada by two points in the gold medal game. Henry averaged three points and 2.6 rebounds in that event, and he did it at 17 years old while playing up a level. At Arizona Compass Prep last season, he put up 24.0 points per game as a junior.
For UConn, the appeal is obvious. The Huskies can sell winning, and they can sell development.
They’ve captured two national championships in the last four years and reached the title game three times over that stretch. If a recruit wants a program with a real chance to cut down the nets, Storrs is an easy place to circle.
The NBA angle is just as strong. UConn has sent a first-round pick into the league in four straight drafts, with Alex Karaban and Tarris Reed Jr. in 2026, Liam McNeeley in 2025, Stephon Castle and Donovan Clingan in 2024, and Jordan Hawkins in 2023.
Add the second-round picks of Tyrese Martin in 2022 and James Bouknight in 2021, and the Huskies have had a player selected in six straight drafts. Only Duke and Baylor can say the same.
In Other News...
UConn Just Landed A Five-Star Piece Dan Hurley Really Needed
UConn added a major building block to its future this week when NaVorro Bowman Jr. committed to the Huskies, giving Dan Hurley the first pledge in the programs 2027 recruiting class. The five-star guard from Notre Dame High School in California arrives with plenty of upside and plenty of attention, a combination that has become increasingly familiar for a UConn staff that keeps landing elite talent.
Bowmans commitment is also another sign that Hurleys recruiting reach remains national, not just strong in the Northeast, and it adds to the list of five-star wins the Huskies have stacked since 2023. For a program that has spent the past few years chasing another high standard, getting an early cornerstone in place for 2027 gives UConn a different kind of momentum, even if the rest of that class is still waiting to be built. [Read more 🡒]
UConn Already Has A Big East Test That Could Change Fast
Before UConns 2026-27 Big East slate even takes shape, one matchup already stands out as the kind that can define a winter. Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports reported that the Huskies and St. Johns are expected to meet in conference play on Jan. 29 and again on March 2, with the early one likely set for Madison Square Garden. Since Rick Pitino took over in Queens, the two programs have split their regular-season meetings, and St. Johns has carried the more recent league hardware after winning the last two Big East titles.
The interesting part is how quickly the balance around this rivalry could shift again. Both teams are facing the usual roster churn that comes with college basketball now, and St. Johns in particular is waiting on NCAA eligibility decisions for several possible rotation pieces. Even with the Red Storms recent run and UConns standard place near the top of the league picture, the look of these games could change a lot before the teams ever get to tip off. [Read more 🡒]
UConn Just Added Another Elite Piece For Dan Hurleys Next Wave
UConns next wave of talent got a major boost with the commitment of NaVorro Bowman Jr., a five-star guard who already looks like the kind of prospect Dan Hurley loves to stockpile. The son of former NFL All-Pro NaVorro Bowman, the 6-foot-3 point guard arrives with plenty of pedigree and the kind of national profile that tends to turn recruiting battles into early tone-setters for the future of a program.
Bowman Jr. has been one of the most coveted names in the 2027 class, drawing interest from several major programs before choosing UConn. He also brings international credibility after helping Team USA win gold at the 2026 FIBA U17 World Cup, another sign that the Huskies are not just loading up on upside, but targeting players who have already proven they can compete on a big stage. [Read more 🡒]