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Coming off back-to-back runs to the Sweet 16 for the first time in more than a decade with one of the youngest rosters in Division I, North Carolina women’s basketball has a bright future. And the Tar Heels are getting another potential star next season in McDonald’s All-American guard Kate Harpring.
That name is already familiar to hoop heads who remember Matt Harpring, the three-time All-ACC first-teamer and senior All-American at Georgia Tech who would go on to become the leading scorer for the Utah Jazz after playing alongside John Stockton and Karl Malone.
And, yes, Matt is Kate’s dad. She is in her senior year at Marist High in Atlanta — the same school Matt led to a state title as a senior in 1994 as Georgia’s Mr. Basketball.
Watch the McDonald’s All-American Girls Game on Fubo (free trial)
Here’s more about UNC commit Kate Harpring.
Harpring is ranked No. 1 among 2026 prospects
Harpring, a 5-foot-10 point guard at Marist, is ranked No. 1 nationally among Class of 2026 prospects by 247sports and No. 4 by ESPN after averaging 29.2 points and 11.2 rebounds her senior season. Harpring averaged 32.2 points, 10.6 rebounds and 5.1 steals per game as a junior.
A two-time state champion and scoring record-holder at Marist, Harpring also was named the Naismith Girls High School Player of the Year after finishing her high school career with 3,435 points.
Harpring also won a gold medal at the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup with the USA U19 team where she averaged 8.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 16:03 minutes in seven games.
Other prospects ranked among the top five include USC commit Saniyah Hall, South Carolina commit Jerzy Robinson, UConn commit Olivia Vukosa and Tennessee commit Oliviyah Edwards.
Harpring chose Tar Heels over UConn, Iowa, LSU, South Carolina …
Harpring had her pick of colleges and coaches in the recruiting cycle, and she landed on Chapel Hill with a Nov. 17, 2025, signing after committing in August.
She chose coach Courtney Banghart and North Carolina women’s basketball over offers from Alabama, Georgia, Georgia Tech (where her dad is a Hall of Fame member and ACC Legend), Iowa, LSU, Maryland, Notre Dame, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, UConn and Vanderbilt.
“It feels like a family to me,” Harpring told 247Sports on her decision to commit to UNC. “Coach Banghart has a lot of confidence in me, and she’s the head coach I want to play under. I feel like their program is on the rise. I’m really excited about Coach Banghart, her staff and just the whole all-around family feel of the school.”
She added: “UNC is the school I had the best feeling about. I’m really excited to be committed.”
Does Kate Harpring play like her dad?
Matt Harpring was known for his tenacity and work ethic, and he says he sees those qualities in his daughter, who grew up playing multiple sports including soccer and tennis.
Kate, too, says her defense separates her from other players.
But you can’t help but notice her finesse and IQ relative to her size — similar to Matt Harpring’s game as an deceptively slick scorer with a nice middie off the dribble.
Where to watch 2026 McDonald’s All-American Game
Date: Tuesday, March 31
TV: ESPN
Streaming: FUBO (free trial available) and the ESPN app
Tipoff time: 7 p.m. ET
The 2026 McDonald’s Girls’ All-American Game is scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN from Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.
