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 sport this Saturday on ESPNU.
24 of the nation’s greatest ladies’s highschool prospects got here out to compete throughout the 2025, 2026, and 2027 recruiting courses, with over 75 p.c 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 in opposition to one another over a grueling 40 minutes.
Though a variety of gamers flashed with their talents, 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 rapidly confirmed her capacity to shoot the ball from distance throughout the person drills.
One of many higher gamers that I noticed in the course of the open taking pictures drills, Harpring was in a position to constantly knock down photographs from a variety of three-point spots on the courtroom, exhibiting one of many extra improved areas of her sport.
That carried over to Friday’s scrimmage, the place the Atlanta native gave a glimpse of her capacity as a three-level scorer. Not solely was she in a position to knock down photographs, 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 in every of her calling playing cards as she’s developed right into a high highschool expertise.
Whereas she was referred to as for a number of (questionable) fouls in the course of the scrimmage, the five-star didn’t waver from her depth when on the courtroom.
“I did get referred to as for a pair [fouls]. I imply, I might have saved my arms off just a little bit extra, however I play onerous on protection,” Harpring shared after the scrimmage. “I’ll get a number of sensitive fouls, however basically, I’ll nonetheless preserve taking part in onerous.”
Taking part in for Marist Faculty in Atlanta, Georgia, Harpring is trying to be some extent guard on the subsequent degree, and wished to show herself in opposition to among the high gamers on the place right here in the course of the Below Armour’s Subsequent Elite 24.
Averaging 27.8 factors and seven.8 rebounds per sport as a sophomore with Marist final season, Harpring led her workforce to the Class 6A state championship. On the best way, she had a large 45-point efficiency within the semifinals, main the Warfare Eagles to an time beyond regulation win over River Ridge earlier than going for 27 factors within the title sport to seal the deal.
Now, heading into subsequent yr, the rising junior is trying to develop into an much more efficient scorer, whereas bettering her sport and sustaining her place as one of many high level guards within the nation.
“I’m simply attempting to get higher at every part,” Harpring mentioned. “Actually attempting to include extra leap photographs in my sport 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 rapidly stood out on Day 1 along with her smooth contact and consistency across the rim on the offensive finish.
That has been one the areas the place the five-star has improved, changing into a two-way participant that may function properly out of the put up.
“My stepdad, he coaches me, so once I first began taking part in, I used to be identified for having the ability to block photographs and being actually large,” Edwards acknowledged. “He didn’t like that as a result of he was like, properly, ‘she will accomplish that rather 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] having the ability to dribble. It’s simply a whole lot 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 photographs 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 a superb 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 should be within the paint for that sport to win it, then that’s what I’m gonna do. If I should be outdoors, 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 workforce wants.”
The Elite 24 was a giant check for Edwards, who’s taking part in in opposition to a variety of fellow five-star forwards and facilities, as she continues to show herself on a nationwide degree. Nevertheless, the second didn’t appear too large for her.
“It’s actually in regards to the psychological and simply your mindset and the way you have a look at it,” Edwards acknowledged. “You’ll be able to have a look at it as, ‘oh, there’s a whole lot of stress and there’s a whole lot of this that,’ or you may have a look at it as, ‘I’m the canine and I’m gonna present everyone what I can do at present.’”
I really feel like my mother actually helps me with that when I’ve, like dangerous nervousness, fearful about what different folks suppose. She actually helps me with that pep discuss 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 foul sport 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 yr’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 acquired higher at taking pictures. I undoubtedly improved with my management, I’d say. And simply the psychological a part of it, having the ability to bounce again,” Edwards mentioned in regards to the previous yr.
“I used to get actually in my head so much within the sport, and that used to take me out of my sport, and I really feel like now I can mess up and nonetheless go after and nonetheless be capable to bounce again. And that’s a very large half as a result of that’s what was once. My mother used to at all times say, ‘the one particular person that may cease you is you.’ In order that’s actually what I’m specializing in, is having 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 yr.
