Withrow standout Chris Henry Jr. and siblings leave Cincinnati
Three of Cincinnati’s top high school athletes have left the area.
Withrow High School students Chris Henry Jr. and his brother DeMarcus Henry, and their sister, Purcell Marian senior Seini Hicks, all withdrew from their schools this week and left Cincinnati to return to North Carolina with their mother, Loleini Tonga.
Withrow head boys basketball coach Roberto Allen confirmed their departure Saturday morning.
Their father, former Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry Sr., died in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Dec. 17, 2009, and would be 39 today.
Chris Henry and Seini Hicks are both Ohio State commits, Chris in football and Hicks in basketball. DeMarcus Henry, a freshman, is a potential top basketball recruit, according to Allen.
Chris Henry, a sophomore, had 71 catches for 1,127 yards and 10 touchdowns this past season, helping the Tigers set a school record for wins as they went 12-2 and reached the Division II regional finals.
More: Sibling bond between Seini Hicks, Chris Henry Jr. continues with Ohio State commitments
Hicks transferred during the summer from West Clermont to Purcell Marian, which is a two-time defending state champion, including the Division II title in 2023. According to Prep Girls Hoops, she is ranked as the No. 4 player in the 2024 class in Ohio after averaging 13 points and 10 rebounds last season for West Clermont, which went 24-1. She averaged nine points in nine games for the Cavaliers, who are 14-1 this season.
On the basketball court, both brothers were starters and key players. Chris averaged 13.6 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 3.4 steals. DeMarcus averaged 6.5 points and 3.8 rebounds as a freshman.
Withrow had struggled this season but without the Henry brothers, the Tigers knocked off Woodward (8-5) 54-53 Friday night to improve to 3-6.
“The boys came to play,” Allen said. “They executed, played hard and completed. They filled a big hole with those two not being there.”
DeMarcus Henry, nicknamed “Bubba,” is likely to be a highly sought basketball recruit, Allen said.
“Bubba is 6-4, left-handed, highly skilled, highly intelligent,” Allen said. “He's projected to grow to 6-7. He can become on the basketball scene what Chris is to the football scene.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Withrow standout Chris Henry Jr. and siblings leave Cincinnati
