By R.L. Bynum
The legend of Kate Harpring, already etched into Georgia high school basketball history, grew even larger Tuesday as the North Carolina recruit was named the Naismith Girls’ High School Player of the Year.
The honor for the 5–11 Marist Academy star guard, presented by the Atlanta Tipoff Club, places her among the nation’s most celebrated young talents — and sets the stage for her highly anticipated arrival in Chapel Hill for next season.
UNC coach Courtney Banghart said that the award is just the latest confirmation of what the Tar Heels are getting: a once‑in‑a‑generation competitor with the résumé to match.
“Kate had a remarkable career at Marist, capped off with a State Championship in her senior season and by setting the Georgia high school state scoring record,” Banghart said. “She has earned every accolade she’s received.”
Banghart praised Harpring’s leadership, consistency, and unselfish style of play, calling her “a humble two-way star and a great teammate” who will elevate the program on the court, in the locker room and around campus.
Harpring spectacularly closed her prep career just a week ago, delivering an incredible performance: 40 points and 16 rebounds to lift Marist to its second straight Georgia 4A state title.
That monster outing also punctuated a historic season in which she became the state’s all-time leading scorer with 3,435 points, a record that may stand untouched for years.
Her trophy case, already overflowing, gained yet another gem with the Naismith honor. Harpring also earned a spot on the Naismith Girls All-America First Team, was named a 2026 McDonald’s All-American, and holds recognition as the No. 1 player in the Class of 2026 according to 247Sports.
She’s the reigning Girls Gatorade Player of the Year in Georgia, and now becomes just the fifth Georgia native to claim the Naismith High School Player of the Year award — and the first since 2021.
Subscribe to read Tar Heel Tribune ad-free
Subscribe for a cleaner, smoother reading experience without the flashing banners, slow-loading elements, or those especially annoying pop‑up ads that interrupt the flow of the story. You’ll also get the first version of each story emailed to you. The only ads you’ll see are static, non-intrusive ads for UNC‑related books, and there are none currently on the site.
Photo courtesy of UNC Athletics
