Kat Fogarty was supposed to be the future for the ConVal girls basketball team.

She was 6-foot, 2-inches, and played to her height.

She had great hands and footwork, a smooth shot and could bang down low with the best of them.

As a freshman, Fogarty led the Cougars to the playoffs for the first time in four years, while averaging 18.5 points and 11 rebounds per game, both team highs.

She was named second team all-state in Class I, the only freshman to be selected for any of the three teams.

The future was bright for not only the ConVal program, but for Fogarty in a Cougar uniform, but it turned out to be a one-year stop when she decided to leave.

Fogarty was accepted into Governor’s Academy, a prep school in Byfield, Mass., which presented a big change and a big opportunity.

So after some time of weighing the pros and cons of transferring, which would require Fogarty to repeat her freshman year, they decided it was the best option for her.

“I’ve seen her blossom in just the nine months she’s been there,” said Paul, Kat’s dad. “It’s worked just the way I wanted it to.”

As difficult as it was for Paul to watch his daughter leave home, years before a typical child does, he felt it was the right thing for her.

Since moving to Peterborough the day before her first day of eighth grade, Fogarty had made a number of friends, on and off the basketball team, and that made the decision even harder.

“I didn’t like the feeling of leaving home,” said Fogarty. “It’s hard to start over, but I’m getting used to it.”

Since her mother passed, Paul felt a positive female role model would be ideal for his oldest child — and he strove to find a place where she could just be a kid.

But she still comes home almost every weekend she can. And during the season, Paul made the road trips to see her play, only missing three games all year.

“She’s in the gym all the time,” said Governor’s coach Erin O’Connell. “She’s so relentless.”

Fogarty saw some extra attention on the ConVal squad and things haven’t changed too much at Governor’s.

“She definitely saw defenses that made life difficult,” O’Connell said.

The New England Preparatory School Athletic Council has, like most leagues, its tough teams and middle of the road ones, but no matter the competition, Fogarty plays the same.

“I wanted her to be challenged more,” said Paul. “I wanted her to play against better players.”

After Governor’s missed the playoffs a year ago, Fogarty helped the Govs return to the Class B postseason as the fifth seed.

Though they lost their final game by one point, Fogarty capped off her first season in the red and white with 22 points and 11 rebounds, and averaged 14.5 and 10 for the 20-game season.

“I like being an impact player,” said Fogarty.

And the season ended much the way it began.

Fogarty began her tenure at Governor’s with 11 points and 18 rebounds. She also had a game with 25 points and 10 rebounds, and it all led to some impressive recognition.

“She didn’t want to stand out and be the star player,” O’Connell said. “But her teammates immediately recognized her talent.”

She was named to the AB East All Star team, the only freshman selected, and finished Sunday’s game with four points, seven rebounds and a couple blocks.

“Probably her most important skill is her rebounding,” said O’Connell. “She’s just a monster on the glass.”

There were also awards for All-New England and All-ISL. And it won’t be the end of the accolades for Fogarty, who still has three more years to play at Governor’s and the future that lies beyond that is bright.

“I really just want to play basketball,” Fogarty said. “It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.”

Like any athlete her age, Fogarty wants to play in college and take her game to the next level. But what will get her there is the work ethic and pure love for the game.