Hailey Van Lith (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

One season was all Hailey Van Lith needed to know she needed to take her talents elsewhere for the 2024 season.

The college basketball season might be over, but transfer portal season is here, and there are no signs of slowing down. Van Lith entered the NCAA Transfer Portal last Thursday after one season in Baton Rouge. This marks her second time in the portal, as she left the Louisville Cardinals to head to LSU last year.

Now, a top suitor is emerging for her services.

The Mississippi State Bulldogs are targeting the former star of LSU and Louisville to come to their program and finish her career. This move makes tons of sense, as Sam Purcell was named the ninth head coach in Mississippi State women’s basketball history in 2022 after spending eight years as an assistant at Louisville.

Van Lith played for two years under Purcell, so the relationship and familiarity are already in place.

 

Van Lith had nothing but good things to say about Purcell when asked about his hire in 2022:

“Yeah, he’s my guy, man. Everyone on the team knows that’s my coach. And we’re really close, and we have a great relationship. And he treats me like family. And he puts up with me when I want to work out all the time and rebounds for me and all that.

I’m going to miss him a lot, but it’s his time, and he’s worked really hard for this, and he deserves this opportunity. I’ll clap for him, and I’ll keep up, and we’ll keep our relationship, but it’s time for him to take the next step.”

The Mississippi State Bulldogs Want Hailey Van Lith

Hailey Van Lith (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
There has been major buzz that Van Lith might be taking her talents to Mississippi State. Sports Illustrated reported that, after speaking with those familiar with her recruitment, there does appear to be some level of “traction” here.

The report made it clear that it is not set in stone due to several other programs being linked to Hailey Van Lith.

There is no secret as to why Mississippi State would want her as head coach. Sam Purcell was an assistant coach at Louisville during Van Lith’s stint with the Cardinals, and the program would love to improve after finishing seventh in the conference during the 2023-24 season.