Kentucky Basketball offers 5-star recruit DeMarcus Henry

Jan 2, 2026; Mesa, AZ, USA; Arizona Compass Prep forward DeMarcus Henry (15) against Spire Institute (OH) during the HoopHall West Tournament at Skyline High School. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Kentucky Basketball head coach Mark Pope and his staff continue to stay aggressive on the recruiting trail, extending an offer Friday to class of 2027 5-star small forward Demarcus Henry following a strong showing at Nike EYBL Session II in Memphis.

Henry, a 6-foot-7, 190-pound prospect from Arizona, is ranked No. 14 overall nationally, the No. 5 small forward in the class, and the No. 3 player in Arizona, according to the 247 Sports Composite rankings.

Pope and the Kentucky staff were in attendance Friday during EYBL action when Henry exploded for 25 points, helping further solidify his growing national reputation. Shortly after watching him in person, Kentucky officially offered the talented wing.

“After a great conversation with Coach Mark Pope, I’m thankful to receive an offer from the University of Kentucky,” Henry wrote on social media.

Henry entered Session II already producing at a high level on the Nike EYBL circuit. In three games during Session I, he averaged 16.3 points, 12.7 rebounds, 2.7 blocks, 2.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 48.6% from the field.

Kentucky becomes Henry’s first blue blood offer as his recruitment continues to gain momentum nationally. Other schools that have offered include Oregon, Ohio State, Washington, BYU, LSU, USC, Arizona State, and Oklahoma State.

Henry is also the son of the late former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry, who played six seasons in the NFL after starring at West Virginia.