USC Women's Basketball: Trojans Legend Tries To Recruit Transferring Rival Star
Could Hailey Van Lith transfer to USC?
The LSU women's college basketball star announced she was entering the transfer portal after the Tigers lost to Iowa in the NCAA Elite Eight. This is the second time Van Lith has entered the transfer portal. She previously entered last year after spending three years with Louisville, when she went to LSU.
Now, a former USC legend is encouraging Van Lith to join the Trojans. Former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Matt Leinart reposted the news of Van Lith transferring on social media, with the caption, "Come on over." During his time at USC, Leinart was one of the top athletes at the school. Along with winning the Heisman, Leinart won numerous other awards including the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and the Manning Award.
The Trojans, like Van Lith and LSU, also just advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight, where they fell to UConn. They had their best season in 30 years, winning their conference championship and finishing the year 29-6, which would certainly make them an appealing team for Van Lith to transfer to. Van Lith could team up with JuJu Watkins and Rayah Marshall to form one of the better trios in college basketball.
If the Trojans were to add Van Lith, it would be a significant addition for a team that will lose McKenzie Forbes, Kayla Padilla and Kaitlyn Davis. The Trojans are bringing in one of the top recruiting classes next season, but adding a player like Van Lith would bring a key experienced player for what looks to be a younger team in 2024-2025.
