Van Lithe making early and strong start to be Div I freshman of the year

[SVCBeercats]

Per game Van Lithe is averaging 26.7 minutes, 18 points, and 7.7 rebounds. She is shooting 58.3 FG%, 52.9 3FG%, and 60 FT%. She is averaging 4 steals per game. She was named ACC freshman of the week. Paige has competition. Stealing a headline: "At Louisville, Hailey Van Lithe is living up to the hype."

At Louisville, Hailey Van Lith is living up to the hype - The Next

Highly-touted prospect named ACC Freshman of the Week

thenext.substack.com

Louisville's Hailey Van Lith named ACC women's basketball freshman of the week

Louisville women's basketball newcomer Hailey Van Lith was named ACC Freshman of the Week on Monday.

www.courier-journal.com

Van Lith named ACC Freshman of the Week

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — For those who thought Hailey Van Lith might need some time to adjust to the Division I level, that notion was put to bed over the Thanksgiving

www.wenatcheeworld.com

 

[Plebe]

Per game Van Lithe is averaging 26.7 minutes, 18 points, and 7.7 rebounds. She is shooting 58.3 FG%, 52.9 3FG%, and 60 FT%. She is averaging 4 steals per game. She was named ACC freshman of the week. Paige has competition. Stealing a headline: "At Louisville, Hailey Van Lithe is living up to the hype."

Van Lith is no doubt an amazing player, but I believe Caitlin Clark of Iowa has been equally impressive so far, if not more so.

In her first 3 collegiate games Clark is averaging 26.7 ppg on 51% FG shooting, plus 7.3 assists and 2.7 steals per game.

Van Lith has shot more efficiently at 58% and is ahead of Clark on steals but has done a third less scoring (18 ppg) and only has 1 assist per game.

If I had to choose an All-American team right now based on performance thus far, Caitlin Clark would be 1st team, hands down.

 

[Kaizen]

Wait until we see Paige ...

 

[DefenseBB]

Wait until we see Paige ...

No truer words have been spoken!

 

[JonathanXIV]

Per game Van Lithe is averaging 26.7 minutes, 18 points, and 7.7 rebounds. She is shooting 58.3 FG%, 52.9 3FG%, and 60 FT%. She is averaging 4 steals per game. She was named ACC freshman of the week. Paige has competition. Stealing a headline: "At Louisville, Hailey Van Lithe is living up to the hype."

At Louisville, Hailey Van Lith is living up to the hype - The Next

Highly-touted prospect named ACC Freshman of the Week

thenext.substack.com

Louisville's Hailey Van Lith named ACC women's basketball freshman of the week

Louisville women's basketball newcomer Hailey Van Lith was named ACC Freshman of the Week on Monday.

www.courier-journal.com

Van Lith named ACC Freshman of the Week

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — For those who thought Hailey Van Lith might need some time to adjust to the Division I level, that notion was put to bed over the Thanksgiving

www.wenatcheeworld.com

Let's not get too excited about shooting percentages after 3 games. Particularly since her FT percentage is not impressive (and is the shooting percentage less susceptible to fluctuation). She shows promise and skill. But it's really early.

 

[SVCBeercats]

Van Lith is no doubt an amazing player, but I believe Caitlin Clark of Iowa has been equally impressive so far, if not more so.

The difference being Van Lithe received more ink in high school and will get more ink and hype playing for Loiusville. Rightly or wrongly, ESPN will hype Van Lithe over Clark.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Let's not get too excited about shooting percentages after 3 games. Particularly since her FT percentage is not impressive (and is the shooting percentage less susceptible to fluctuation). She shows promise and skill. But it's really early.

Good call. Clark hit something like 22-36 in her first 2 games but was only 8-23 yesterday. Shooting % can change rapidly until there is a bigger sample size.

 

[Plebe]

The difference being Van Lithe received more ink in high school and will get more ink and hype playing for Loiusville. Rightly or wrongly, ESPN will hype Van Lithe over Clark.

I wouldn't assume that. Megan Gustafson got plenty of hype (deservedly so) from ESPN in her stellar senior season, and she was completely under the radar coming out of high school and in her first two years at Iowa.

 

[Anchor Town]

Van Lithe or Van Lith? I thought it was the latter

 

[Adriacus]

Shouldn’t a player have to face at least one team that plays D before they get anointed as the Next Great Thing? Dropping 20+ on the East Dakota School for Hairdressers or Sister Mary’s School for Welders doesn’t excite.

 

[CL82]

Wait until we see Paige ...

I don’t expect to see that level of points per game from Paige.

 

[Cuango]

Van Lith has been very impressive as has Caitlin Clark but I wouldn’t trade Paige for either one of them. I will say that I think it is very possible that Van Lith or Clark will be Freshman of the year rather than Paige as it is difficult to see Paige averaging the same kind of numbers as the other two players. UConn has rarely had a player (Maya) that puts up big numbers every game as we tend to have more balance. Also, Paige will most likely be playing point guard which makes it even more unlikely that she will be a big scorer. Of course, she is capable and may be so talented that she does anyway but I think it unlikely because we have so much talent surrounding her. I was pretty sure Van Lith was going to be a star. She is pretty impressive. I thought the biggest difference between Paige and her in HS was that Paige was a bit smoother, more in control, and a better passer. Van Lith was more of a bull in a China closet. I don’t mean that as a put down merely as a description of their relative strengths. She (Van Lith) has landed on a perfect team for her strengths and clearly is going to be a star. I’m still happy with Paige though!

 

[nwhoopfan]

Van Lithe or Van Lith? I thought it was the latter

Correct, no "e."

 

[nwhoopfan]

Van Lith has been very impressive as has Caitlin Clark but I wouldn’t trade Paige for either one of them. I will say that I think it is very possible that Van Lith or Clark will be Freshman of the year rather than Paige as it is difficult to see Paige averaging the same kind of numbers as the other two players. UConn has rarely had a player (Maya) that puts up big numbers every game as we tend to have more balance. Also, Paige will most likely be playing point guard which makes it even more unlikely that she will be a big scorer. Of course, she is capable and may be so talented that she does anyway but I think it unlikely because we have so much talent surrounding her. I was pretty sure Van Lith was going to be a star. She is pretty impressive. I thought the biggest difference between Paige and her in HS was that Paige was a bit smoother, more in control, and a better passer. Van Lith was more of a bull in a China closet. I don’t mean that as a put down merely as a description of their relative strengths. She (Van Lith) has landed on a perfect team for her strengths and clearly is going to be a star. I’m still happy with Paige though!

I just think it's exciting seeing various freshmen having a sizable impact right at the start of the season.

 

[Lwrc]

I just think it's exciting seeing various freshmen having a sizable impact right at the start of the season.

The battle for freshman POY just getting started. Not many heavyweights have squared off so I wouldn’t put too much stock in some of these early results. However I have never been a huge fan of Hailey Van Lith and despite ESPN not covering Caitlin Clark as much I think she will make a huge splash this year. Too bad Angel got hurt, she would have been in the POY conversation. Maddie Westbeld has done well, same with GoForth and Paopao. But we all know ESPN will not allow anyone but Paige to win that award. Clark would have to lead the country in PPG (which, maybe?) to dethrone Paige from the crown she’s already won.