Each year since 2006, MaxPreps has recognized outstanding performers in high school girls basketball. The tradition continues to close out the 2025-26 season by naming the top player in each state. Selections are based on team success and individual excellence in addition to local and state accolades.
Kate Harpring of
Marist (Atlanta) is the 2025-26 MaxPreps Georgia High School Girls Basketball Player of the Year. The 5-foot-10 senior point guard led the War Eagles to a 29-2 record and second straight Class AAAA state title.
For the season, Harpring averaged 29.2 points, 11.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 3.9 steals per game.
North Carolina commit Kate Harpring leaves Marist as a two-time champion and the state's all-time leading scorer. (PHOTO: Corey Jones)
In the state championship win over Kell (Marietta), Harpring dropped 40 points and grabbed 16 rebounds.
The daughter of former NBA player Matt Harpring, she is Georgia's career scoring leader with 3,435 points.
Regarded as a top 10 prospect in the Class of 2026, Harpring signed with North Carolina in November and will conclude her career at the McDonald's All American Game in April.
Each state's MaxPreps Player of the Year will be considered for inclusion in the MaxPreps All-America Team, which is scheduled to be released in April. Past selections include 2025 WNBA Most Valuable Player A'ja Wilson (2014) along with 2025 All-WNBA selections Aliyah Boston (2017, 2018, 2019), Paige Bueckers (2018, 2019), Napheesa Collier (2015), Sabrina Ionescu (2015, 2016), Kelsey Mitchell (2014), Nneka Ogwumike (2008), Alyssa Thomas (2010) and Jackie Young (2014, 2015).
Past MaxPreps Georgia Players of the Year2021-22 — Sydney Bowles, Woodward Academy (College Park)
2022-23 — Courtney Ogden, Westminster (Atlanta)
2023-24 — Danielle Carnegie, Grayson (Loganville)
2024-25 — Hailee Swain, Holy Innocents Episcopal (Atlanta)
