It appears Haley Van Lith’s time at LSU is likely over.
The guard entered the transfer portal after just one season with the Tigers, where the team dropped to the Elite Eight. According to multiple reports.
Van Lith, who had one year of eligibility remaining, had 48 hours after LSU’s loss to Iowa on Monday to formally declare for the 2024 WNBA Draft, but instead entered the 5-5 draft at the collegiate level. It will be his second season.
Van Lith, who was named a McDonald’s All-American in 2020 before his first year of college, played three seasons at Louisville and set career highs with 19.7 points, 3.2 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game in 2022-23. did. The Cardinals advanced to the Elite Eight, but lost to Caitlin Clark and Iowa.
Before all was said and done, Van Lith entered the transfer portal and defeated the University of South Carolina and Stanford to join the defending national champion team, a two-time First Team All-ACC member. Met. According to the Daily Advertiser.
However, his scoring numbers slumped at LSU, averaging only 11.6 points per game. This was his lowest number since his freshman season, but he set a new personal best with 3.6 assists per game.
Van Lith struggled in LSU’s four games in March Madness this year, averaging just 6.8 points per game as the Tigers fell one game short of making the Final Four.
She particularly struggled defensively, spending most of her time covering Clark, who had 41 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds for LSU.
“Caitlin is very skilled. She’s a great player,” Van Lith said of covering Clark. “She hit some tough shots. There’s not much you can do about some of the threes she hit.
“I think the team around her, who played a role, executed their role well. In the end they played better than us, that was the case.”
Head coach Kim Mulkey spoke about Van Lith after the loss, saying she hopes he’ll be back with a one-year window left.
She also noted that Angel Reese has one more year left, but the star forward declared for the WNBA draft on Wednesday.
“Well, I hope this isn’t her last fight,” Mulkey told reporters. “But if that’s the case, I’m proud to have coached her for a year. If she wants to come back, she has another year. So do the Angels. They have to make the decision. I know that.
First half against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the NCAA Elite 8 round
Women’s Basketball Tournament to be held at MVP Arena on April 1, 2024.
Located in Albany, New York. Getty Images
“Haley Van Lith came to LSU after being a prolific shooter. She shot a lot at Louisville. She was very successful. She was on a good team. But she earned a degree in finance. She wanted to experience everything she had seen from afar at last year’s championships.
“Her decision to take the leap of faith and leave her comfort zone at Louisville, when she was such a big piece of the puzzle, not many players have done that. She took fewer shots and took a new position. She’s willing to learn. In the last game against UCLA, I thought her stats were very good, but I’m an old point guard so I know all that.”
Now, Van Lith appears to have played his last game in the marquee, but he could theoretically return to Baton Rouge.
