University of North Carolina Athletics
Future Tar Heel Kate Harpring Honored As 2026 Naismith Girls’ HS Player Of The Year
March 17, 2026 | Women's Basketball
ATLANTA – The awards and accolades for incoming Tar Heel Kate Harpring continue to stack up as the future women's basketball guard was honored as the 2026 Jersey Mikes Naismith Girls' High School Player of the Year by the Atlanta Tipoff Club. Harpring is set to join the Tar Heels for the 2026-27 campaign.
"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. As someone who has been following her closely over the past few years, she has earned every accolade she's received," said head coach Courtney Banghart. "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."
Wrapping up her prep career last week, Harpring led Marist Academy to its second straight 4A State Title in Georgia after dropping 40 points and grabbing 16 rebounds in the title game. Her performance etched her name in the Georgia record book as the state's all-time leading scorer with 3,435 career points.
Harpring adds to her trophy case full of honors throughout her career at Marist, most recently named to the Jersey Mike's Naismith Girls All-America First Team. The Atlanta native is also a 2026 McDonald's All-American and is touted as the No. 1 player in the Class of 2026 by 247Sports.
Along with back-to-back state titles, Harpring is also the reigning Girls Gatorade Player of the Year in Georgia. She is the first Georgia native to earn the honor as the Naismith High School Player of the Year since 2021 and fifth overall.
Stay up to date with the latest North Carolina women's basketball news on X at @UNCWBB, Instagram @UNCWBB, and Facebook at Carolina Women's Basketball.
ABOUT THE ATLANTA TIPOFF CLUB
Founded during the 1956-57 season, the Atlanta Tipoff Club is committed to promoting the game of basketball and recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of those who make the game so exciting. The Atlanta Tipoff Club administers the Naismith Awards, the most prestigious national honors in all of college and high school basketball. Named in honor of Dr. James Naismith, inventor of the game of basketball, the Naismith Awards family, annually recognizes the most outstanding men's and women's college and high school basketball players and coaches. Other Naismith Awards are presented to the men's and women's college basketball defensive players of the year, as well as lifetime achievement awards to basketball officials and outstanding contributors to the game. UCLA's Lew Alcindor received the first Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy in 1969, while the late Anne Donovan (Old Dominion) was the inaugural women's recipient in 1983. Corporate partners of the Naismith Awards include AXIA Time, Jersey Mike's, MOLECULE, and Werner Laddert. For more information, visit www.naismithtrophy.com.
"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. As someone who has been following her closely over the past few years, she has earned every accolade she's received," said head coach Courtney Banghart. "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."
Wrapping up her prep career last week, Harpring led Marist Academy to its second straight 4A State Title in Georgia after dropping 40 points and grabbing 16 rebounds in the title game. Her performance etched her name in the Georgia record book as the state's all-time leading scorer with 3,435 career points.
Harpring adds to her trophy case full of honors throughout her career at Marist, most recently named to the Jersey Mike's Naismith Girls All-America First Team. The Atlanta native is also a 2026 McDonald's All-American and is touted as the No. 1 player in the Class of 2026 by 247Sports.
Along with back-to-back state titles, Harpring is also the reigning Girls Gatorade Player of the Year in Georgia. She is the first Georgia native to earn the honor as the Naismith High School Player of the Year since 2021 and fifth overall.
Stay up to date with the latest North Carolina women's basketball news on X at @UNCWBB, Instagram @UNCWBB, and Facebook at Carolina Women's Basketball.
ABOUT THE ATLANTA TIPOFF CLUB
Founded during the 1956-57 season, the Atlanta Tipoff Club is committed to promoting the game of basketball and recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of those who make the game so exciting. The Atlanta Tipoff Club administers the Naismith Awards, the most prestigious national honors in all of college and high school basketball. Named in honor of Dr. James Naismith, inventor of the game of basketball, the Naismith Awards family, annually recognizes the most outstanding men's and women's college and high school basketball players and coaches. Other Naismith Awards are presented to the men's and women's college basketball defensive players of the year, as well as lifetime achievement awards to basketball officials and outstanding contributors to the game. UCLA's Lew Alcindor received the first Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy in 1969, while the late Anne Donovan (Old Dominion) was the inaugural women's recipient in 1983. Corporate partners of the Naismith Awards include AXIA Time, Jersey Mike's, MOLECULE, and Werner Laddert. For more information, visit www.naismithtrophy.com.
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