By R.L. Bynum
North Carolina already knew it would be getting one of the best point guards in the country in Kate Harpring, but the Tar Heels may not have known how tough she is until Tuesday night.
The 5–11 star, who has collected national player of the year awards, was in obvious pain when she hurt her left shoulder while pulling down a second-quarter rebound during the McDonald’s Girls All-American Game in Glendale, Ariz.
She walked off the floor, holding her left shoulder. But she returned with that shoulder wrapped and started the second half. Even though she still appeared to be in pain at times, she helped her East team earned a 91–71 victory over the West.
Harpring finished with 14 points on 6 of 12 shooting while showing off her quickness to the rim and her tremendous passing ability. In the fourth quarter during a big East run, she pulled down the rebound and threw a long pitch-ahead pass for a layup.
Harpring, who is no stranger to shoulder issues, won a second Georgia 4A state championship for Marist Academy in Atlanta, collecting 40 points and 16 rebounds in the championship game.
“We sat down with Kate Harpring the other day,” ESPN play-by-play announcer Ted Emrich said on the broadcast of a conversation he and ESPN analyst Brooke Weisbrod had with Harpring. “She told us about her long road from shoulder issues in junior high. She told us that she tore her labrum in eighth grade, had surgery that really helped her. But in her team’s state championship in Georgia that shoulder did pop out. She continued the game. But my goodness, to have this happen on this stage.”
Harpring, the daughter of former Georgia Tech star Matt Harpring, is Georgia’s all-time leading scorer with 3,435 points and is No. 1 in the Class of 2026, according to 247Sports.
Projected roster if all players with eligibility other than Elina Aarnisalo, Lanie Grant,, Taliyah Henderson and Liza Ashtakhova and Liza Ashtakhova return, with years listed for next season (UNC is one below the 15-player limit)
| Year | No./ Stars | Players | Pos. | Height | |
| Freshman | 5 star | Kate Harpring | PG | 5–10 | |
| Freshman | 52/4 star | Noelle Bofia | F | 6–4 | |
| Sophomore | 3 | Gabby White — W | G | 5–10 | |
| Sophomore | 7 | Nyla Brooks | W | 6–1 | |
| Sophomore | 26 | Taissa Queiroz | G | 6–1 | |
| Junior | 34 | Blanca Thomas | C | 6–5 | |
| Junior | 1 | Jordan Zubich | G | 5–11 | |
| RS junior | 21 | Ciera Toomey | F | 6–4 | |
| RS junior | 4 | Laila Hull | W | 6–1 | |
| Senior | Sophie Burrows — X | G | 6–2 | ||
| Senior | 11 | Achol Akot — Y | F | 6–1 | |
| Senior | 10 | Reniya Kelly | G | 5–7 | |
| Senior | 15 | Sydney Barker | G | 5–6 | |
| Graduate | 13 | Chloe Clardy — Z | G | 5–9 |
W — Virginia transfer; X — Syracuse transfer; Y — Oklahoma State transfer; Z — Stanford transfer
Former players who entered transfer portal
| Player | Class next season | Pos. | Hgt | Next school |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elina Aarnisalo | Junior | G | 5–10 | UCLA |
| Lanie Grant | Junior | G | 5–9 | TCU |
| Taliyah Henderson | Sophomore | W | 6–1 | Clemson |
| Liza Astakhova | Sophomore | G | 6–2 | BYU |
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