Hailey Van Lith
Van Lith with Louisville in 2022
No. 11 – LSU Tigers
PositionPoint guard
LeagueSoutheastern Conference
Personal information
Born (2001-09-09) September 9, 2001
Wenatchee, Washington, U.S.
Listed height5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Career information
High schoolCashmere
(Cashmere, Washington)
College
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Women's basketball
Representing the  United States
FIBA Under-19 World Cup
Gold medal – first place2019 ThailandTeam
FIBA Under-17 World Cup
Gold medal – first place2018 BelarusTeam
Women's 3x3 basketball
Representing the  United States
FIBA 3x3 World Cup
Gold medal – first place2023 AustriaTeam
FIBA 3x3 Under-18 World Cup
Gold medal – first place2019 Mongolia
Youth Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place2018 ArgentinaTeam

Hailey Van Lith (born September 9, 2001) is an American basketball player for the LSU Tigers of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). She previously played for the Louisville Cardinals.

At Cashmere High School in Cashmere, Washington, Van Lith was rated as one of the top recruits in her class, named a McDonald's All-American and left as the all-time leading scorer in state history. She played her first three college seasons at Louisville, earning first-team All-ACC honors two times and leading the Cardinals to the Final Four as a sophomore in 2022. After her junior season, she transferred to LSU.

Van Lith has won two gold medals with the United States at the youth international level. In 3x3 basketball, she has played for the senior national team and is a 2023 FIBA 3x3 World Cup gold medalist. Van Lith was most valuable player (MVP) of the 2019 FIBA 3x3 Under-18 World Cup, where she led her team to a gold medal.

Early life

Van Lith was born in Wenatchee, Washington, to Jessica and Corey Van Lith. Her father played basketball and baseball at the University of Puget Sound, and her parents own a custom home building business.[1][2] She has one brother, Tanner, who played baseball for Big Bend Community College.[1] Van Lith grew up playing basketball under the guidance of her father, who had her train four to five nights per week.[3] She modeled her game after Diana Taurasi and also drew inspiration from Seattle Storm players Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart.[4] Van Lith was a member of the Northwest Blazers Amateur Athletic Union program under coach Steve Klees. She was the first eighth and ninth-grader to play for the Blazers' top team and started in the Adidas Nationals title game in both years, earning Adidas All-American honors.[5]

High school career

Van Lith played four years of basketball at Cashmere High School in Cashmere, Washington, under head coach Brent Darnell.[6] On November 30, 2016, she made her debut, scoring 14 points in a win over Ellensburg High School.[7] Van Lith led Cashmere to the Class 1A state title game, where she recorded 18 points, 12 rebounds and seven steals in a 45–44 upset loss to Mount Baker Senior High School. Her team finished the season with a 26–1 record.[8] As a freshman, she averaged 24.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 3.8 steals per game,[5] earning Associated Press (AP) Class 1A All-State first team honors.[9] In her sophomore season, Van Lith assumed a more important role with the departures of three starters.[5] On January 25, 2018, she recorded the first quadruple-double in program history, with 37 points, 14 steals, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in an 89–34 win over Chelan High School.[10] She helped her team reach the Class 1A state title game, where they lost to Lynden Christian School.[11][12] Van Lith averaged 32 points, 8.3 rebounds, 7.3 steals and 5.2 assists per game as a sophomore and was named AP Class 1A Player of the Year.[12][13]

In her junior season, Van Lith led Cashmere to a third-place finish at the Class 1A state tournament, where she was MVP.[14] She averaged 34.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, 5.2 steals and 4.9 assists per game as a junior. Van Lith was named Washington Gatorade Player of the Year and AP Class 1A Player of the Year.[15][16] Before her senior season, she developed a relationship with Hall of Fame player Kobe Bryant, who was impressed by her work ethic and mentality and viewed her as a role model for his daughter, Gianna. She trained at Bryant's Mamba Sports Academy in Los Angeles and became a friend and mentor for Gianna.[2] On February 15, 2020, Van Lith became the state's all-time leading scorer, a record previously held by Jennifer Stinson since 1995, while scoring 46 points in an 84–28 win over Omak High School at the Caribou Trail League title game.[17] She led Cashmere to a 24–1 record and the Class 1A state title game, where her team lost to Lynden Christian School, and was named tournament MVP.[1][18] As a senior, Van Lith averaged 32.6 points, 9.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 4.2 steals per game.[19] She was honored as Washington Ms. Basketball, Washington Gatorade Player of the Year, The Seattle Times Player of the Year and AP all-class Player of the Year.[19][20][21][22] She was selected to play in the McDonald's All-American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic, but both games were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[23]

In addition to basketball, Van Lith played softball for Cashmere as a center fielder and shortstop.[24] On April 11, 2017, as a freshman, she hit her first career walk-off home run in a 7–6 win over Cascade High School.[25] She held offers from NCAA Division I softball programs by eighth grade.[17]

Recruiting

Van Lith was considered a five-star recruit, the number seven player and the top combo guard in the 2020 class by ESPN.[26] She was drawing the interest of NCAA Division I programs by her freshman season.[27] On November 16, 2019, Van Lith committed to playing college basketball for Louisville, choosing the Cardinals over an offer from Baylor.[28]

College career

Van Lith was the starting point guard for Louisville in her freshman season.[29] On November 25, 2020, she made her collegiate debut and had 13 points and eight rebounds in a 74–53 win over Southeast Missouri State.[30][31] On March 5, 2021, in the ACC tournament quarterfinals, Van Lith recorded a season-high 24 points, five rebounds and four steals in a 65–53 win against Wake Forest.[32] She was named to the All-ACC tournament first team after helping the Cardinals achieve a runner-up finish.[33] As a freshman, Van Lith averaged 11.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game and was an ACC All-Freshman Team selection. She helped Louisville win the ACC regular season title and reach the Elite Eight of the 2021 NCAA tournament.[34]

Van Lith (right) defends Aliyah Boston of South Carolina at the 2022 Final Four

In her sophomore season, Van Lith assumed a greater role with the departure of Dana Evans.[34] She scored 19 points in her season debut on November 12, 2021, as her team lost to Arizona, 61–59, in overtime.[35] On December 19, she scored 16 points to help lead Louisville to a 69–64 win over UConn at the Women's Hall of Fame Showcase.[36] On February 3, 2022, Van Lith scored a career-high 34 points in a 93–71 win against Clemson.[37] In the game, she shot 6-of-6 from three-point range, the most three-pointers made without a miss in program history.[30] Van Lith led Louisville to the Final Four of the 2022 NCAA tournament, with four consecutive 20-point games, and was named most outstanding player of the Wichita Regional.[38] She averaged 14.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game as a sophomore, earning first-team All-ACC honors.[39]

Van Lith's role continued to expand in her junior season.[40] In her first game of the season, on November 7, 2022, she scored 28 points in an 87–68 over Cincinnati.[41] On January 12, Van Lith scored a season-high 29 points in an 81–79 loss to Virginia Tech.[42] In the quarterfinals of the 2023 ACC tournament on March 3, she scored 26 points, including 17 in the first quarter, in a 74–48 win over Wake Forest.[43] Van Lith led Louisville to an ACC tournament runner-up finish and was named to the all-tournament first team.[44][45] At the 2023 NCAA tournament, she had four straight 20-point games and led her team to the Elite Eight, where she scored 27 points in a 97–83 loss to two-seed Iowa.[46] As a junior, Van Lith averaged 19.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. She was named first-team All-ACC for a second straight season and earned All-American honorable mention from the Associated Press, the United States Basketball Writers Association and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association.[47][48] Following her junior season, Van Lith entered the transfer portal as a graduate transfer on April 8.[49] ESPN rated her as the top transfer in the nation.[50]

On April 27, 2023, Van Lith announced that she would transfer to reigning national champion LSU. She was drawn to the school's support for the women's basketball team and the intensity of the team, and she had a relationship with head coach Kim Mulkey since high school.[51]

National team career

Van Lith at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics medal ceremony

Van Lith represented the United States at the 2018 FIBA Under-17 World Cup in Belarus and won a gold medal.[52] She averaged five points and two assists in 13.6 minutes per game in the tournament.[53] At the 2019 FIBA Under-19 World Cup in Thailand, Van Lith averaged 9.1 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game, helping the United States win the gold medal.[54] In the final, she scored 16 points and made the game-tying basket in regulation to help her team defeat Australia, 74–70, in overtime.[55]

In 3x3 basketball, Van Lith won a gold medal with the United States at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics in Argentina.[24] She led her team to another gold medal at the 2019 FIBA 3x3 Under-18 World Cup in Mongolia, where she was named MVP.[56] Van Lith played for the senior national 3x3 team at the 2022 FIBA 3x3 World Cup in Belgium, leading the United States to the quarterfinals.[57] At the 2023 FIBA 3x3 World Cup in Austria, she helped the team win the gold medal, recording seven points and six rebounds in a 16–12 win over France in the final.[58]

In total, Hailey Van Lith has won a total of five gold medals for USA female basketball team at U-17, U-18, U-19, and senior team level.

Career statistics

College

Bold Career best
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
2020–21 Louisville 303030.1.429.383.8305.22.11.2.21.711.2
2021–22 Louisville 343430.9.432.360.8133.62.21.2.12.114.4
2022–23 Louisville 373736.9.411.293.8744.53.21.5.33.719.7
Career 10110132.9.422.337.8504.42.51.3.22.615.4
Statistics retrieved from Sports-Reference.[59]

Personal life

Van Lith is a Christian. She was baptized in 2023 and said it was the “Best day of my life.” She has also said, “My greatest success in life is to offer my life to serve Jesus.”[60]

Van Lith is represented by the sports agency Octagon. She has been described as one of the most marketable women's college basketball players.[39][61] Van Lith has signed name, image and likeness deals with Adidas, JCPenney and Dick's Sporting Goods.[62] On February 25, 2023, she announced that she donated $30,000 to the Louisville nonprofit Family Scholar House to provide tablets for its children's technology program.[63]

Van Lith graduated from the University of Louisville in three years with a degree in finance.[64] She was a three-time All-ACC Academic Team selection at Louisville.[65][66][67] In her junior year, Van Lith was named a second-team Academic All-American by College Sports Communicators.[68]

Van Lith is currently dating Orlando Magic player Jalen Suggs.[69]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Hailey Van Lith". USA Basketball. Archived from the original on August 5, 2020. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  2. 1 2 Marantos, Jeanette (January 30, 2020). "Gigi, Kobe Bryant befriended a small-town basketball star and her dad". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  3. ↑ Johnson, Zach (February 7, 2019). "A man and his daughter: Corey and Hailey Van Lith are quite the basketball duo". The Wenatchee World. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  4. ↑ Egan, Chris (February 7, 2019). "Cashmere's Hailey Van Lith among top high school basketball recruits in America". KING-TV. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 Fader, Mirin (December 7, 2017). "Hungry and feisty, sophomore Hailey Van Lith lighting it up for Washington's Cashmere". ESPN. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  6. ↑ Milles, Todd (April 1, 2022). "Retracing Hailey Van Lith's small-town high school basketball rise: Nobody created a buzz like this edgy, generational talent". Scorebook live. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  7. ↑ Roland, Mitchell (April 1, 2022). "Through the years: Hailey Van Lith's journey from Cashmere High School to the NCAA Final Four". The Wenatchee World. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  8. ↑ "1A Girls: Mount Baker stuns top-seeded, undefeated Cashmere to win state title". Yakima Herald-Republic. March 4, 2017. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  9. ↑ Joyce, Nathan (March 27, 2017). "Blanchet's Jadyn Bush, Mercer Island's Anna Luce share Associated Press state girls player of the year, head All-State team". The Seattle Times. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Prep Thursday: Van Lith notches quadruple-double in CTL-clinching victory over Chelan". The Wenatchee World. January 25, 2018. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  11. ↑ Elges, Nick (June 5, 2018). "A year to remember". Lynden Tribune. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  12. 1 2 "2017-18 ALL-USA Washington Girls Basketball Team". USA Today High School Sports. April 17, 2018. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  13. ↑ Martinez, Tim (March 27, 2018). "Prairie's Brooke Walling, Washougal's Beyonce Bea earn AP all-state basketball honors". The Columbian. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  14. ↑ "1A girls all-tournament teams: Hailey Van Lith named MVP of 2019 Washington 1A girls basketball state tournament". Scorebook Live. March 5, 2019. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  15. ↑ Mugwanya, Kisa (March 14, 2019). "Cashmere's Hailey Van Lith named Gatorade Washington Girls Basketball Player of the Year". The Wenatchee World. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  16. ↑ "Hailey Van Lith, Cole Bajema named 1A Washington High School Basketball AP Players of the Year". Scorebook Live. April 5, 2019. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  17. 1 2 Ringer, Sandy (February 15, 2020). "Another goal checked off the list: Cashmere's Hailey Van Lith breaks state's career scoring record". The Seattle Times. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  18. ↑ "WIAA 1A girls basketball all-tournament team: Cashmere's Hailey Van Lith named MVP". Scorebook Live. March 8, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  19. 1 2 Ringer, Sandy (March 15, 2020). "Seattle Times All-State girls basketball: Cashmere's Hailey Van Lith made her case as state's greatest". The Seattle Times. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Van Lith, Mullins named AP Washington prep players of year". Associated Press. March 25, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  21. ↑ Evans, Nick (March 25, 2020). "Van Lith Named Gatorade/MaxPreps Washington Player of the Year". University of Louisville Athletics. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  22. ↑ Miles, Todd (March 17, 2020). "Cashmere's Hailey Van Lith racks up another award, this time 'Ms. Basketball' in Washington; Lynden's Rob Adams coach of the year". Scorebook Live. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  23. ↑ Demling, Jody (March 14, 2020). "Q&A: Louisville women's signee Hailey Van Lith". 247Sports. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  24. 1 2 Blockus, Gary R. (October 9, 2018). "Hailey Van Lith Leads USA Basketball Gold Medal Hunt at Youth Olympic Games". USA Basketball. Red Line Editorial. Archived from the original on October 9, 2018. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  25. ↑ DeShazo, Brian (April 12, 2017). "Prep focus: Van Lith's extra-inning walk-off gives Cashmere softball 7-6 win over Cascade". The Wenatchee World. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  26. ↑ "Hailey Van Lith 2020 High School Girls' Basketball Profile". ESPN. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  27. ↑ Rubens, Daniel (March 1, 2017). "Immediate impact: She's only a freshman, but Hailey Van Lith is making a huge impression as Cashmere heads to state". The Wenatchee World. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  28. ↑ Lamb, Kyle (November 16, 2019). "Cashmere's Hailey Van Lith Commits to Louisville". KPQ. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  29. ↑ Jennings, Chantel (January 13, 2021). "For Louisville freshman Hailey Van Lith, playing up is what she's always known". The Athletic. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  30. 1 2 "Hailey Van Lith". Louisville Cardinals. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  31. ↑ "Louisville women's basketball tops Southeast Missouri State in season opener". Courier Journal. Associated Press. November 25, 2020. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  32. ↑ Robinson, Cameron Teague (March 5, 2021). "Three takeaways as Hailey Van Lith carries Louisville past Wake Forest in ACC Tournament". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  33. ↑ "Pack to Pack! NC State Women Again Wear ACC Tourney Crown". Atlantic Coast Conference. March 7, 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  34. 1 2 McGavic, Matthew (May 16, 2021). "Jeff Walz Anticipating Hailey Van Lith to Play More Aggressively in 2021-22". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  35. ↑ "No. 6 Louisville Comes Up Short in 61-59 Overtime Loss to No. 15 Arizona". Louisville Cardinals. November 12, 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  36. ↑ "Louisville Defeats UConn in Top 10 Showdown". Sports Illustrated. Associated Press. December 19, 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  37. ↑ "Hailey Van Lith scores a career-high 34 points as No. 4 Louisville tops Clemson 93-71". Courier Journal. February 3, 2022. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  38. ↑ Demling, Jody (May 28, 2022). "Hailey Van Lith named Wichita Region Most Outstanding Player". 247Sports. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  39. 1 2 Cubit, Alexis (November 7, 2022). "How a simple question changed Louisville's Hailey Van Lith's approach to basketball, brand". Courier Journal. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  40. ↑ Ryan, Shannon (October 26, 2022). "Women's basketball Player of the Year, All-America teams predictions by The Athletic's experts". The Athletic. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  41. ↑ "Van Lith leads No. 7 Louisville past Cincinnati 87-68". USA Today. Associated Press. November 7, 2022. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  42. ↑ "RV/RV Cardinals Edged Out by #13/13 Virginia Tech, 81-79". Louisville Cardinals. January 12, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  43. ↑ Crawford, Eric (March 3, 2023). "Van Lith's first-half tear carries Louisville to 74-48 ACC Tourney rout of Wake". WDRB. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  44. ↑ Vogt, Dustin (March 22, 2023). "UofL's Hailey Van Lith named WBCA Region Finalist for second-straight season". WAVE. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  45. ↑ Beard, Aaron (March 6, 2023). "No. 8 Virginia Tech beats Louisville for 1st ACC crown". Associated Press. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  46. ↑ McGavic, Matthew (March 26, 2023). "Louisville's Season Ends to Iowa in Elite Eight". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  47. ↑ "Louisville's Hailey Van Lith Receives AP All-American Honorable Mention". Sports Illustrated. March 15, 2023. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  48. ↑ "Van Lith Named USBWA All-American". Louisville Cardinals. March 15, 2023. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  49. ↑ Philippou, Alexa (April 8, 2023). "Louisville guard Hailey Van Lith enters portal as grad transfer". ESPN. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  50. ↑ Creme, Charlie (April 28, 2023). "Top women's NCAA basketball players in the 2023-24 transfer portal". ESPN. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  51. ↑ Nagy, Zach (April 28, 2023). "Hailey Van Lith Opens Up On Transfer Decision To LSU". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  52. ↑ Dunn, Ian (August 1, 2018). "Cashmere's Van Lith helps U17 USA team win FIBA World Championship". The Wenatchee World. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  53. ↑ "Hailey Van Lith (USA)'s profile - FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup 2018". FIBA. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  54. ↑ Johnson, Zach (July 30, 2019). "Van Lith helps lead USA to another gold medal in Thailand". The Wenatchee World. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  55. ↑ "USA U19 Women Take Gold With Overtime Thriller". USA Basketball. July 28, 2019. Archived from the original on July 28, 2019. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  56. ↑ "MVP van Lith stars in women's team of the tournament at FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup". FIBA. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  57. ↑ Cubit, Alexis (June 27, 2022). "Louisville guard Hailey Van Lith, Team USA fall to Canada in FIBA 3x3 quarterfinals". Courier Journal. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  58. ↑ "Golden again: LSU's Hailey Van Lith helps lead U.S. to FIBA 3x3 World Cup victory". The Times-Picayune. June 4, 2023. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  59. ↑ "Hailey Van Lith College Stats". Sports-Reference. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  60. ↑ Ackerman, Jon. "Most Viewed In 2023: #4 - College basketball star Hailey Van Lith gets baptized". Sports Spectrum. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  61. ↑ Kuc, Chris (March 29, 2022). "Louisville's Hailey Van Lith Proves Why She's a $1M Star". Front Office Sports. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  62. ↑ Crawford, Eric (July 27, 2022). "Louisville's Van Lith announces another national NIL deal". WDRB. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  63. ↑ "Louisville's Van Lith donates $30K to local nonprofit Family Scholar House". WDRB. February 25, 2023. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  64. ↑ Azzi, Alex (April 8, 2023). "Hailey Van Lith enters NCAA transfer portal as graduate student". Just Women's Sports. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  65. ↑ "2022-23 All-ACC Academic Women's Basketball Team Announced". Atlantic Coast Conference. April 13, 2023. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  66. ↑ Curtis, Mike (April 12, 2022). "All five Syracuse women's basketball starters make All-ACC Academic team". The Post-Standard. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  67. ↑ Hanson, Logan (November 1, 2021). "Louisville basketball player Hailey Van Lith embracing NIL movement". BVM Sports. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  68. ↑ "2022-23 Academic All-America® Women's Basketball Teams Announced For All NCAA and NAIA Divisions". College Sports Communicators. March 15, 2023. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  69. ↑ "Jalen Suggs' girlfriend, Hailey Van Lith, is a baller too". 2021-07-30. Retrieved 2023-09-11.
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