TechSideline.com (a.k.a. Coming out of high school, Kitley was a five-star prospect and a two-time state champion at Northwest Guilford High School. The 6-6 junior is the first player in the Tech history to win the award, and she did it in style. Sifford, Kesler, Kitley, Eric Hill and Tim Mitchell keyed a 29-2 team coached by Hundley. No other Tech player posted double figures, but Kitley and Traylor stepped up, especially in the second half. There was a serious recruiting struggle for Elizabeth. Carolina is a great basketball team. A few days afterward, Elizabeth talked about autism awareness on Packer and Durham, arguably the ACC Networks most popular show. Were two peas in a pod, Raven Kitley said. That came from watching Mike Gminski play for the Blue Devils in the late 1970s. TSL) is an independent publication that is in no way affiliated with or sponsored by Virginia Tech or the Virginia Tech Athletic Department. She switched her focus to basketball before her freshman year at Northwest Guilford High School in Greensboro, North Carolina, when she stood 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m). She's Got Game Classic-December 2016: Agile low-post performer patrols the key, defends, rebounds and starts the fast break; post up game with emerging results; competes on both ends of the floor. 2023 Virginia Tech Athletics - All Rights Reserved. 33 overall. The reason? We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Kitley's jumper lifts No. 9 Hokies past No. 22 Tar Heels You noticed her height, but her skills needed improvement, Brooks said. Dave Odom had replaced Staak and Joel Coliseum had become Wake Forests new homecourt, but Kitleys role stayed about the same. Wake Forest coaches envisioned him playing forward, not center. Virginia Tech Center Elizabeth Kitley Named ACC Player of the Year She made a pass out of a trap to a cutter for the key bucket on Thursday. Who is the player of the year in every women's college basketball conference? Platinum rankings page includes schools of interest on ranked players. For more details about the site, including a list of TechSideline.com staff, see our About page. The losses were by one point to South Meck and Thomasville. She averages 19.3 points (on 55.6-percent shooting) and 10.6 rebounds and has been ACC Player of the Week four times. Personal. A player card does not guarantee a ranking or specific rating. We went to another school, and we went into the lobby to sign Elizabeth in, said Ralph Kitley, a former player at Wake Forest. [16], Kitley's father, Ralph, played professional basketball in Germany and Brazil following a college career at Wake Forest. Born on Sept. 17, Kitley is the daughter of Ralph and Loretta Kitley. Ralph averaged 6.9 points, with a high of 18 against Davie County. With the win, the Hokies sit in third place in the ACC standings with an opportunity to clinch a share of the regular season title. But Traylor hit the groups lone trey in that span while Kitley was 4-of-4. Tallied six double-doubles on the season. (Virginia Tech athletics) On Tuesday, Virginia Tech center Elizabeth Kitley was named the ACC Women's Basketball Player of the Year for 2021-22. All original material and images are copyrighted by TechSideline.com and may not be reused or reprinted without permission. Game over. BTW another perfect report, David. The latest stats, facts, news and notes on Elizabeth Kitley of the Virginia Tech Hokies Ralph Kitley travels almost to every game, often with Raven in tow. She made a lot of friends on that team, which is cool because shes 30 years old and shes not in school, so she doesnt get that experience to see people her age or people like her anymore. But Im confident in my game and that Ill continue to improve and become a true leader for my team.. His father, Marsden Kitley, was a Methodist minister. Elizabeth Kitley was a freshman in high school when she was first introduced to competitive basketball. Maryland, Louisville, Arkansas Start Fast, Video Add-on (must be existing platinum subscriber). Kitley Picks Virginia Tech | Prospects Nation All rights reserved. How do you leave POY last year and this, Liz Kitley, so wide open??? Elizabeth is special. She calls me all the time, Kitley said. REPORT YOUR COMMITMENT TO commit@prospectsnation.com. Need to stay focused on GT. Elizabeth Kitley is one of the nations best basketball players. Started all 30 contests and averaged 12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds. The ACC women's basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year award is named in memory of the legendary Yow, who won 737 games as a head coach while directing NC State to four ACC Tournament championships and the 1988 U.S. Olympic Team to a gold medal. Team CONF GB OVR; Notre Dame: 15-3-24-4: Virginia . Elizabeth Kitley recipient of Kay Yow Scholar Athlete of the Year Award These sorts of inclusive activities offer a sense of belonging and foster the kind of confidence that we all want for our loved ones. She shot 56% from the field. She was named 4A State Tournament MVP and AP 4A All-State in 2017 and 2018. Period. She recorded the most points by a Virginia Tech freshman in a debut. The box score attached is way off. I can say that while being as objective as I possibly can be as her dad.. Great win. [15] As a junior, she averaged 18.1 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game. They gave Elizabeth a lanyard, and there was no lanyard for Raven. Virginia Tech Sports File Photo Elizabeth thought she had let me down by not going to Wake Forest, but that wasnt the case, at all. Kitley's shot then denied the Tar Heels a final home court win. Elizabeth Kitley denies NC State Wolfpack with block. 9 Hokies past No. The On3 Industry Ranking is the industry's most advanced, complete and unbiased rating and ranking measurement. [1] As a sophomore, Kitley led Northwest Guilford to its first state championship at the 4A tournament and was named most valuable player (MVP) of the title game. Born on Sept. 17, Kitley is the daughter of Ralph and Loretta Kitley. 2022-23 ACC Standings. In fact, the coaches made a lanyard specifically for Raven when she came up for a visit with Elizabeth. [9] On January 17, 2021, Kitley tied the program single-game record with 21 rebounds, while scoring 18 points in a 6764 loss to Wake Forest. The Hokies superstar center on the womens basketball team recently named the ACC Player of the Year, ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and currently getting ready to lead the Hokies to their second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance smiled and shook her head. Virginia Tech star Elizabeth Kitley on her life outside of basketball We got contributions [from everyone], and thats what makes us so dangerous.. Battle-in-the-boro-July 2018: Skilled post prospect with consistent interior game; executes in isolation, exploits defenders, superb footwork in back-to-basket game; defensive presence, alters shots; mobile in uptempo game; among the elite front court prospects in the class of 2019. We can contend for an ACC championship, Kitley said. Great end-of-game play and perfectly executed. Raven then walked into the building and was like, No, I dont see this happening. Hokies guard Georgia Amoore joined her on the first team, while teammate Taylor Soule, a forward, made the . Brooks and Raven bonded quickly when Brooks visited the Kitleys home in Summerfield, North Carolina, so much so that Brooks gave her his phone number and the two started conversing regularly. The second time around, Elizabeth gave in. She scores 27 points in her first game, Kitley said with a chuckle. If you want to get the scoop on Elizabeth Kitley then you'll need to sign up for the Prospects Nation Yearly Platinum Membership. Were winning, and its not that Carolinas down. We have a chance at having the player of the year in both mens & womens hoops. He was the first coach that actually didnt just see Elizabeth, Raven said. 22 North Carolina women's basketball team (19-9, 10-7 ACC) fell to No. Though separated by nine years in age, the two share an undeniable bond. Theres not a ton of doubt in my mind.. The thing about Elizabeth is that once she was in, she was all-in, Ralph said. She was named to USA Today FirstTeam NC in 2018, was a McDonalds All-American Nominee and scored 1,000 points in her high school career. She said, Well, my dad was MVP as a senior. Special Olympics gives her that opportunity. Region/state roundup: Virginia Tech women's basketball star Elizabeth Elizabeth Kitley, man. Now, six years and one USA Basketball stint later, the center is a force to be reckoned with on the court. Her biggest fan was trying to reach her. They share a love for sports. Were Virginia Tech, Brooks said. Her basketball career is certain to extend past college if thats the direction she chooses. He and I have a relationship based off that. The Hokies won the game and achieved an even higher purpose. Her AAU coach, the father of Kitleys high school and current collegiate teammate Cayla King, Tom, plucked her from the other two sports she grew up playing, volleyball and softball. Atlantic Coast Conference women's basketball Player of the Year, United States Basketball Writers Association, "Ralph and Elizabeth: Kitleys are a basketball family", "Northwest Guilford girls makes history with 4-A basketball title", "Northwest Guilford's 'true grit' leads to another title", "Center of attention: Virginia Tech's Elizabeth Kitley named ACC player of the year", "Elizabeth Kitley 2019 High School Girls' Basketball Profile", "Northwest Guilford's Liz Kitley says Virginia Tech 'just felt like home', "Kitley honored by ACC after stellar opening week", "Women's basketball around the Commonwealth provided plenty to remember in 2019-20", "Elizabeth Kitley scores 30 points in Virginia Tech win over Appalachian State", "Virginia Tech women's basketball struggles down the stretch in loss to Wake Forest", "Kitley registers 30-point afternoon in 89-87 loss at No. In the 74-69 state championship game win against Ayden-Grifton, he produced 17 and 14 and was voted MVP. "Elizabeth took 24 hours to call every coach that recruited her to let them know her decision and to thank them," Kitley said. In 2017, Elizabeth joined her father in an elite fraternity, as MVP of a state championship game. I told him that I talked to her. He was a Christmas present born on Christmas Eve in 1967. He pretty much just handed me a uniform and said, go play, Kitley said at the ACC Tip-Off in Charlotte in mid-October. She doesnt do anything half-way. And while it cranked up the offensive efficiency in the third with a 4-of-7 quarter that included two 3-pointers, it limited Carolina to just 5-of-18 (28%) from the field. (Olson) But when she arrived in Blacksburg, from her hometown in Greensboro, North Carolina, the raw recruit wasnt what the polished junior is now. Amoore did not have a good game- Turnovers, bad shooting. GO HOKIES! Elizabeth was ACC Freshman of the Year in 2019-20.
