LSU guard Hailey Van Lith will enter the transfer portal, according to On3.
Van Lith averaged 11.6 points per game, 2.4 rebounds per game and 3.6 assists per game this season at LSU.
She was a top transfer this past offseason, hitting the transfer portal after spending three seasons at Louisville.
In the 2022-23 season, Van Lith averaged 19.7 points per game, 4.5 rebounds per game and 3.2 assists per game. She led the Cardinals to the Elite 8 where they lost to Iowa. In that matchup, Van Lith scored 27 points, shooting 3-for-9 from three and 8-for-19 from the field.
But taking a lot of shots was not Van Lith’s assignment at LSU. Throughout the season, she often played at point guard for the Tigers rather than at her natural shooting guard position.
With her new position, Van Lith was forced to facilitate more and take less shots. Therefore, she rarely was able to play her style of game or the style she played with at Louisville.
“Hailey’s taken a lot of criticism, and it needs to stop,” head coach Kim Mulkey said after LSU’s road win over Tennessee. “She’s on the top team in the country, the defending national champions. She’s having to play the point guard, and today, she moved to the off-guard.”
However, the decision to transfer to LSU showed Van Lith’s true competitive nature.
“Hailey Van Lith came to LSU after being an abundant shooter. Shot it a lot at Louisville. Had great success. Was on good teams,” Mulkey said. “For her to take that leap of faith and leave her comfort zone at Louisville, you don’t see many players do that when she was that big a piece to their puzzle.”
Van Lith shined brightest during SEC play. In the team’s win at home over Florida, she finished with 21 points, seven rebounds and two steals.
In the team’s win on the road at Tennessee, she set a season-high with 26 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
