Hailey Van Lith breaks down what she brings to the court for LSU

Hailey Van Lith is hoping to show off a different side of her game after transferring to LSU from Louisville this offseason. Van Lith starred this past season for the Cardinals, leading them to the Elite Eight while averaging 19.1 points per game and is a career 33.1% shooter from 3-point range.

However, as she joins a Tigers team that already features several other capable scorers, she hopes to show off more of her ability as a distributor. In an interview with Bleacher Report, Van Lith defended her “point guard skills” and expressed excitement for the opportunity to be the primary ball handler next season at LSU.

“I think I bring a different type of leadership that I’ll be able to help with,” she said. “I’m a little bit more of a calm personality. A different taste. I do have point guard skills. A lot of people are like, ‘Oh, she’s not a point guard. All she does is shoot.’ That’s a lie. I’m gonna come here right now, stand on two feet and tell everybody that’s a lie. It’s about what opportunity I’ve been given and at LSU I’ll be given an opportunity to play point and show that I can run a team. I’m very capable of that and I also think I have a unique shot-making ability that kind of sets me apart.”

Van Lith shared point guard duties this past season at Louisville, averaging a career-best 3.2 assists per game. However, it was guard Mykasa Robinson who led the team with 4.2 dimes per contest. With LSU losing starting point guard Alexis Morris to the WNBA, Van Lith figures to step into that role in the 2022-23 season.

She should have no shortage of talented players around her either. The Tigers, fresh off a national championship, return star forward Angel Reese, who set an NCAA record with 34 double-doubles a year ago. They also bring back reigning SEC Freshman of the Year Flau’jae Johnson and add transfer forward Aneesah Morrow, who averaged 25.7 points and 12.2 rebounds this past season at DePaul.

That has made LSU the favorite to repeat as national champs in 2023-24. But more than just what she can add to the Tigers, Van Lith is also eager to see how playing under coach Kim Mulkey can improve her game as well.

“I’m excited to show that part of me, but I’m also really excited for all the ways that LSU’s gonna make me better,” she said. “I think defensively they’re gonna make me so much better. From a leadership standpoint, they’re gonna push me to be able to lead a team with other great players. For as much as I can do for them, they can do so much more for me.”