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Senior guard Hailey Van Lith reportedly entered the NCAA transfer portal Thursday after one season with the LSU Tigers. Her numbers suffered this season as she averaged 31.3 minutes and recorded 11.6 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game while having a 37.8/33.9/83.3 shooting split.
Where will she end up playing in her final year of NCAA eligibility?
Update: Hailey van Lith took a visit to Mississippi State, according to a report by On3. The LSU transfer could be an important addition to the Bulldogs who have lost star center Jessika Carter, Erin Barnum, and shooting guard Lauren Park-Lane.
5 Hailey Van Lith landing spots
#1, Iowa Hawkeyes
The Iowa Hawkeyes are an interesting team, as adding Hailey Van Lith makes sense. Her last two schools have been eliminated by the Hawkeyes in each of the previous two seasons (2022 with Louisville, 2023 with LSU).
With the departure of Caitlin Clark after the season, the team will need a player to step up and play well. Van Lith has shown the ability to step up and should be able to excel in an explosive offense where guard play is critical.
#2, South Carolina Gamecocks
For another team that is still alive on the final weekend of the college basketball season, this move could ensure a trip to the NCAA Tournament next year. The Gamecocks are legitimate contenders as long as the three-time reigning Naismith Coach of the Year, Dawn Staley, is leading the program.
South Carolina has been focused on playing down low, and having Van Lith on a more perimeter-centric team would be another good wrinkle.
#3, Miami Hurricanes
This may look like a bit of a long shot, but the closer you look, the more appealing this move seems. Playing in Miami is a great spot for Hailey Van Lith in terms of branding, as she is an Adidas athlete and Miami is an Adidas school.
She is also a social media superstar in the college basketball world, and the Cavinder twins placed the blueprints a few seasons ago. Plus, playing in Miami is never a bad option.
#4, UConn Huskies
Hailey Van Lith is not afraid of criticism, and she showed that by joining the national champions last year. Pairing her with Paige Bueckers would be incredible for UConn.
With another legendary coach, Geno Auriemma, holding the reigns, Van Lith would be a great addition to the team, as it would have arguably the deadliest backcourt in college basketball history. The Huskies will lose forward Aaliyah Edwards to the 2024 WNBA draft, so adding Van Lith could help replace her production.
#5, Washington Huskies
Going home is always an option, and Van Lith is from Cashmere, Washington. This could be a chance for her to reset her mindset and give the team that is joining the Big Ten a spark as it heads for a tough conference. The program went 16-15 this season in the final year of the Pac-12, so it will need a major addition to get to that next tier.
