The Below Armour Subsequent Elite 24 showcase is formally underway, because the three-day showcase started with practices on Thursday and scrimmages on Friday earlier than the nationally televised recreation this Saturday on ESPNU.
24 of the nation’s greatest girls’s highschool prospects got here out to compete throughout the 2025, 2026, and 2027 recruiting courses, with over 75 % of the contributors being five-star recruits.
Whereas Thursday was a lighter day that concerned extra particular person drills and 3-on-3 work, Friday concerned a full-on scrimmage between the 2 divided groups, with 12 gamers on either side, as the highest recruits within the nation competed towards one another over a grueling 40 minutes.
Though quite a few gamers flashed with their skills, two particular gamers stood out among the many relaxation with their skillsets: 2026 five-star guard Kate Harpring and 2026 five-star ahead Oliviyah Edwards.
Kate Harpring
Harping was one of many first gamers to face out on Day 1 Thursday, as she shortly confirmed her skill to shoot the ball from distance throughout the person drills.
One of many higher gamers that I noticed throughout the open taking pictures drills, Harpring was capable of constantly knock down pictures from quite a few three-point spots on the courtroom, displaying one of many extra improved areas of her recreation.
That carried over to Friday’s scrimmage, the place the Atlanta native gave a glimpse of her skill as a three-level scorer. Not solely was she capable of knock down pictures, however Harpring additionally had a pleasant drive along with her off hand on fellow five-star Divine Burroughs, attending to the rim for a layup.
That wasn’t the one space the place the 5’10” guard stood out, as Harpring was additionally bodily defensively, which has been one among her calling playing cards as she’s developed right into a high highschool expertise.
Whereas she was known as for just a few (questionable) fouls throughout the scrimmage, the five-star didn’t waver from her depth when on the courtroom.
“I did get known as for a pair [fouls]. I imply, I might have saved my arms off somewhat bit extra, however I play arduous on protection,” Harpring shared after the scrimmage. “I’ll get just a few sensitive fouls, however usually, I’ll nonetheless preserve taking part in arduous.”
Taking part in for Marist Faculty in Atlanta, Georgia, Harpring is trying to be a degree guard on the subsequent degree, and wished to show herself towards among the high gamers on the place right here throughout the Below Armour’s Subsequent Elite 24.
Averaging 27.8 factors and seven.8 rebounds per recreation as a sophomore with Marist final season, Harpring led her group to the Class 6A state championship. On the way in which, she had an enormous 45-point efficiency within the semifinals, main the Battle Eagles to an additional time win over River Ridge earlier than going for 27 factors within the title recreation to seal the deal.
Now, heading into subsequent 12 months, the rising junior is trying to change into an much more efficient scorer, whereas enhancing her recreation and sustaining her place as one of many high level guards within the nation.
“I’m simply making an attempt to get higher at all the things,” Harpring mentioned. “Actually making an attempt to include extra soar pictures in my recreation like [the] mid-range and stuff like that, however simply maintaining on protection, maintaining on being a three-level scorer, [and] simply preserve taking part in.”
Oliviyah Edwards
Whereas Harpring was one of many larger standouts at guard, 2026 five-star Oliviyah Edwards was one of many high bigs in attendance over the primary two days on the Below Armour Subsequent Elite 24.
Though she was one of many taller gamers in attendance at 6’3”, Edwards shortly stood out on Day 1 along with her delicate contact and consistency across the rim on the offensive finish.
That has been one the areas the place the five-star has improved, turning into a two-way participant that may function properly out of the put up.
“My stepdad, he coaches me, so after I first began taking part in, I used to be identified for with the ability to block pictures and being actually huge,” Edwards acknowledged. “He didn’t like that as a result of he was like, properly, ‘she will be able to achieve this way more,’ as a result of he had already seen my athleticism and different sports activities as a result of I used to play soccer, I used to wrestle and all that.”
So, he knew that he might pull that out of me. So we began engaged on all of that stuff. In order that’s sort of the place [the finishing] comes from, [as well as] with the ability to dribble. It’s simply lots of work that I do at house.”
The defensive aspect is Edwards’s robust swimsuit, as she has nice instincts as a rim protector, shoring up the paint properly and blocking pictures at a excessive clip, whereas additionally securing rebounds.
However, total, the five-star, who’s ranked because the No. 7 recruit within the 2026 class, simply has really feel for the sport on each ends, which is spectacular for a giant, particularly at her age.
“I really feel like I attempt to do what I believe the sport must do,” Edwards shared. “So if I have to be within the paint for that recreation to win it, then that’s what I’m gonna do. If I have to be exterior, pull the massive out that’s guarding me out, after which go in, that’s what I need to do. I simply need to have the ability to do regardless of the group wants.”
The Elite 24 was a giant take a look at for Edwards, who’s taking part in towards quite a few fellow five-star forwards and facilities, as she continues to show herself on a nationwide degree. Nevertheless, the second didn’t appear too huge for her.
“It’s actually concerning the psychological and simply your mindset and the way you have a look at it,” Edwards acknowledged. “You possibly can have a look at it as, ‘oh, there’s lots of strain and there’s lots of this that,’ or you possibly can have a look at it as, ‘I’m the canine and I’m gonna present everyone what I can do in the present day.’”
I really feel like my mother actually helps me with that when I’ve, like unhealthy anxiousness, anxious about what different folks assume. She actually helps me with that pep speak and simply telling myself, ‘okay, look, you bought it. You’re the very best. Go and get it.’ And that’s actually what I work on. Even when I’m having a nasty recreation stats sensible, I’ll simply deal with the rebounds and stuff that I can management. So it’s nearly that mindset half and the way you flip it.”
The rising junior revealed that the psychological space was a spot that had affected her in 12 months’s previous, particularly mid-game, however she grew in that division over her sophomore season, which helped her enhance as a complete.
“I believe I bought higher at taking pictures. I undoubtedly improved with my management, I’d say. And simply the psychological a part of it, with the ability to bounce again,” Edwards mentioned concerning the previous 12 months.
“I used to get actually in my head so much within the recreation, and that used to take me out of my recreation, and I really feel like now I can mess up and nonetheless go after and nonetheless have the ability to bounce again. And that’s a very huge half as a result of that’s what was. My mother used to all the time say, ‘the one individual that may cease you is you.’ In order that’s actually what I’m specializing in, is with the ability to simply bounce again after a mistake.”
Now, heading into the 2024 season, Edwards is assured and can look to sharpen her instruments all-around in hopes of one other robust 12 months.
