As Hailey Van Lith finds herself, LSU prepares for final stretch

To say Hailey Van Lith’s confidence wavered may be unfair, but the senior guard in her first year at LSU is facing a challenge unlike any other in her basketball career. The former Louisville star went from the leading scorer and two-time All-ACC first team selection for the Cardinals and to now taking shot after shot of negativity from fans and critics alike as LSU got out to a 5-3 start in SEC play in 2024.

At her best, Van Lith has a brash swagger about her that is infectious and elevates her game to that of an All-American, but that’s not who she’s been this year at LSU. She’s tried being the player everyone else wants her to be while trying to learn the point guard position. It’s been a recipe of uncertainty and poor stretches.

However, on Sunday’s win over Florida, Van Lith took a significant step towards finding herself with season highs in both points (21) and rebounds (7), while routing the Gators by 40. 

“I just decided to be myself,” Van Lith said afterwards. “My teammates have been encouraging me to do that, my coaches have been encouraging me, so I was finally able to find that. Obviously, I haven’t been completely myself. I’ve had moments, but what I’m trying to say is I’ve been inconsistent. It’s on me to bring it every single game and I’ve accepted that responsibility and it’s time for me to move forward. Today, I scored, but it’s not even about that, the rebounds showed my aggression and I played defense and had energy. It’s mostly just the attitude and competitiveness I can bring to the table.

“I have to bring it or we’re not going to reach our potential.”

With injuries and inexperience plaguing the roster this year, LSU needs its five starters to play well in big games. Van Lith’s importance at both point guard and shooting guard is vital as the Tigers head down the home stretch.

Off the court, Van Lith has battled the outside noise. Turning into the villain to some is challenging. Her head coach knows a thing or two about being criticized and is the perfect voice for Van Lith to follow in these times.

“She has to stop worrying about negative people,” head coach Kim Mulkey said. “These kids read too much crap and she’s human. She wants to please her teammates. She wants everybody to like her. Well, welcome to the real world Hailey, it doesn’t work that way. Be you. Do you. She tried to say that without being as blunt as I am. She was relaxed out there. She just wants to win. She wants to do things she’s never done by being on a team that’s more visible. Poa helped her today by being on the floor more..”

Being the hunted

Through the rough first half of conference play, Van Lith and her team of mostly underclassmen learned what it was like to be the hunted. This team had to learn what it was like to have everyone tracking every result, waiting for them to lose. A record crowd awaited them at every road game. College Gameday was on campus for the game against South Carolina and it drew a record number of viewers.

Every game comes with pressure to be elite. It’s a burden the newcomers are adjusting to and now it’s about responding.

“Every game, everyone is going to give us their best shot,” Van Lith said. “Everyone wants to play us. Ths stands are always going to be packed, so us taking on that challenge and not running from it anymore is the key.”

There’s no more margin for error for this team if it wants to host NCAA Tournament games. LSU is now No. 13 in the latest AP poll and needs to stay in the top 16 to give itself the best chance at a long tournament run.

Mulkey’s basketball mind continues to turn, looking for solutions. One she’s turned to more often the last few games has been playing Van Lith alongside true point guard Last-Tear Poa. The move allows Van Lith to worry about scoring more than creating. That’s where Van Lith is at her best and it showed on Sunday. On both ends, Poa’s presence is a major boost for her.

“We’ve wanted Poa to get in the game more,” Van Lith said. “She played with the right mindset today. She played hard, she played defense, and that allows me to move to the two and get some time there, but also when we were in together we played off each other and sometimes I would bring the ball up and if we can continue to build off that it will make us really dangerous because we can play really fast and it’s hard to guard us in transition.”

An incredibly self-aware person, Van Lith knows every strength and weakness she has on the court. She knew coming to LSU would be an adjustment, even if it’s been more painful than she imagined. The first eight games of SEC play were bumpy, sure, but she has the opportunity to spearhead the response of this LSU team.

The preseason No. 1 and the team with the most star power on it, LSU can still make this season a success. In order to do that, though, Van Lith will have to continue to be herself.

“It’s rare in the women’s game you see me and Aneesah [Morrow] transfer to better teams and it’s a little unprecedented,” Van Lith said. “My motto for this year has been to take one step every day. Sometimes I have bad days, but then I get up and I take another step and try to have a great practice. It’s hard, but that’s why I came here. I wanted to be pushed. I wanted to be challenged, so I’m getting what I asked for.”