Hailey Van Lith breaks down decision to transfer to LSU, team up with Angel Reese

Former Louisville star and new LSU guard Hailey Van Lith is getting ready to begin the new and final chapter of her college hoops career down in Baton Rouge, where she’s teamed up with defending champs LSU and good pal Angel Reese. She also just participated in and won gold at the FIBA 3×3 Tournament, so it’s been a pretty busy offseason for HVL already.

However, since returning from the 3×3 tournament, Van Lith got a chance to sit down with Bleacher Report’s Taylor Rooks to discuss a variety of topics, including her move to LSU. Below, you can read Hailey Van Lith’s full comments on her relationship with Angel Reese, the role she envisions in 2024 and why she was a perfect match with LSU.

Take a look:

Linking up with Angel Reese

“Oh my gosh. Actually, I hit her as soon as soon as they won in the semis and after they won the National Championship. I hit her right away because like I just loved her energy. I was like…keep being you, girl, like do not let anybody make you feel bad for being who you are. Like, you are a star. And she hit me back, she’s like ‘I love you Hailey,’ like gave me all the love back, and it was great. And then ever since then we kept in contact and I ended up choosing LSU. She’s been nothing but um great to me, supportive. She just seems like the type of girl that wants other people around her to do well and see them win, and that’s what I respect and love about her for sure.”

How she’ll fit with LSU

“You know, I think there’s a lot of personality and a lot of people are are worried about how it’s gonna mix, but I think at the end of the day, when you have the same goals and that’s to be the best that we can be as a team, that’s not going to matter. And I think that I’m with a bunch of girls that have that same goal and I don’t think we’re going to have issues on that front because we all just we want to see the team do well. That’s the vibe I got from everybody and I loved it.

“But I also see a little bit of like a glimpse of like a mini pro team, like we’ve got so many WNBA prospects and I really am excited, because I think it’s going to give me a taste of what the league is like and playing on a team with with such great players around me that like… How can I fit? How can I help this team that is already so good? Like, what can I do to help them? I’m very confident in what I bring to the table, but also, I think it’s going to help me so much better for the next stage of my life, which is the WNBA.

“So yeah, I mean, we could probably have a reality TV show next year, I’m not gonna lie. It’s gonna be all the vibes, but I think it’s just gonna be so much fun to hoop with them. Like it’s gonna feel like summer AAU, like you’re just there to to have fun and ball out. I feel like that’s what it’s gonna be like and I just can’t wait.”

Van Lith trying to be more of a leader

“I think I think I bring a different type of leadership that I’ll be able to help with. I’m a little bit more of like a calm personality, a different taste. I think you I do have point guard skills. A lot of people are like ‘oh, she’s not the point guard, all she does a shoot’ and that’s a lie, okay. I’m gonna come here, stand on two feet and tell everybody right now that’s a lie. It’s about what opportunity I’ve been given and I think at LSU I’ll be given an opportunity to play point and show that I can run a team. So I’m very capable of that.

“I also think I have a unique shot-making ability that kind of sets me apart. So I’m excited to show like that part of me. But I’m also just really excited for all the ways that LSU is going to make me better. Like I think defensively they’re gonna make me so much better. I think, from a leadership standpoint, they’re gonna push me to be able to to lead a team with other great players and I think there’s just — you know, for as much as I can do for them, they can do so much more for me.”