Incoming UNC women’s basketball signee Kate Harpring was named the 2026 Naismith Girls’ High School Player of the Year Tuesday. Harpring will join the Tar Heels for the 2026-27 season.

The award comes after Harpring led Marist Academy in Atlanta to its second consecutive Georgia state title. In the championship game, Harpring scored 40 points and grabbed 16 rebounds. She ends her high school career as the state of Georgia’s all-time leading scorer with 3,435 points.

“As someone who has been following her closely over the past few years, she has earned every accolade she’s received,” UNC head coach Courtney Banghart said of Harpring. “She brings consistency as an elite competitor and is a leader that brings out the best in others. She is a humble two-way star and a great teammate. In choosing Carolina, she is joining a program and community that is ready to welcome her. We all look forward to her making us better on the court, in the locker room, and on campus.”

Harpring has won numerous other accolades during her high school career. She is the reigning Gatorade Player of the Year in Georgia, a first team high school All-American, a 2026 McDonald’s All-American and a five-star recruit. ESPN ranks Harpring as the fourth-best player in the recruiting class of 2026, while 247 Sports ranks Harpring No. 1 overall.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications

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