Laura Harper Joins HPU Women’s Basketball Staff

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University women’s basketball team has added Laura Harper as their newest assistant coach, head coach DeUnna Hendrix announced on Thursday. Harper won a national championship as a player at the University of Maryland and was the 10th overall in the WNBA draft to the Sacramento Monarchs in 2008.

“I am more than excited to add Laura Harper to our HPU family,” Hendrix said. “She is a rising star in the coaching profession and the epitome of extraordinary in terms of work ethic, passion and knowledge. Although a great player, evidenced by her resume, she is an even better person who will make everyone around her better.”

Harper spent the 2013-14 season as an assistant coach at Loyola where she worked with the post players. She was coaching at American University after finishing her professional career.

While at Maryland, Harper led the Terrapins to the 2006 National Championship. At the tournament, she received the NCAA Final Four Outstanding Player award, after scoring a career-high 24 points in the semifinal game against North Carolina. Two days later, Harper recorded 16 points in the title win against the Duke Blue Devils. She graduated from Maryland in 2008 and was picked 10th overall in the WNBA draft to the Sacramento Monarchs. The power forward averaged 5.5 points and 3.7 rebounds in her first two seasons as a pro.

Harper also played three seasons overseas, most recently in Russia for the Dynamo Moscow. During the 2011-12 season, she also played for Antakya Turkey, averaging 13.3 points and 9.9 rebounds.