Seeing Her as Role Model for Giana, How Did Kobe Bryant Help Hailey Van Lith Channel Her Inner Mamba?

Hailey Van Lith is turning out to be a great bet for Kim Mulkey. The exceptional senior guard with the LSU Tigers keeps making headlines one after the other. Recently, she made a highlight for delivering her second 20-point game this NCAA campaign. Undoubtedly, she is a star in the making. However, it begs us to question how she has built such robust basketball skills.

Apparently, the former Louisville Cardinals player is being associated with the legend himself– Kobe Bryant. But is she really related to him?

The Van Lith and Bryant connection

When talked about, Hailey Van Lith is often connected to immaculate players like Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird, and Breanna Stewart. However, Kobe Bryant is a new name in this cord for those who don’t follow the impeccable member of the LSU Tigers. Apparently, she is not in any way related to the legend himself, but is surely connected to him. Evidently, she was a model basketball player for Kobe. He loved her work ethic and mentality. Additionally, he even asked Hailey and her father to fly down to Los Angeles for training at his Mamba Sports Academy. Hence, the relationship the two shared was that of a teacher and a student.

This was not all. The superstar in the making was very close to the entire Bryant family. Apparently, she was very close with Kobe’s daughter Gianna who was half a decade younger to her. Sadly, Hailey’s training under Kobe came to a sudden end after a few months due to his accidental death.

After the tragic incident, Hailey’s father– Corey Van Lith — took over the duty and completed his daughter’s training. No doubt, the two impressionable men created a strong player who understands every nook and cranny of the game. Further, Van Lith undoubtedly keeps trying to push herself harder as it is quite apparent from her game with the Tigers.

Van Lith’s Mamba Mentality

Hailey was not the only one who found a fan in Kobe. The same could be said in reverse as Hailey was also a huge fan of Kobe Bryant and his gameplay driven by his iconic Mamba mentality. Further, she idolized him as the amazing human he was.

Ever since the two came in contact, Kobe did a lot to ensure that Hailey immensely improved her game. Additionally, he wanted Van Lith to turn into a good example of women’s basketball. In addition to the training, he would even attend games where she would participate to show his appreciation and support.

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Kobe gave Hailey the confidence that is often required to be built in this game. He trained her for the techniques that he knew to bring out the best in this player. Today, Hailey has basketball in her veins as she has been active in the sport for years now.

Further, her dedication to basketball has earned her multiple prospects. According to Prospects Nations, Hailey is the No. 1 guard in the USA. Adding to this list, she is ranked second in the overall players in the country. Undeniably, Kobe just might have been correct to claim in interviews that the No. 11 LSU guard reminds him of himself as a player.

Currently, Hailey is amongst the best players in the women’s division because Kobe saw her potential.

Hailey Van Lith today

Kobe reached out to Hailey while she was already representing the United States. Nonetheless, he has surely carved out a distinguished player that everyone loves to zoom through the court. The two-time First-team All-ACC is now a part of a robust team of Lady Tigers and is only making the roster even more strong. Her current career stats in 117 games so far are noteworthy. She has an average of 4.1 rebounds, 83.2% free-throw, and 42.1% field goal per game. Adding to this, she has accumulated 1,739 points while maintaining an average of 14.9 points per game.

It is rightly said that the legends never die. While Kobe Bryant and his daughter left us almost half a decade ago, his legacy continues in the form of the new-age players who want to make an impact. Clearly, looking at Hailey and how she keeps bringing her inner Mamba out on the hardwood is a sight to watch. The real Black Mamba fans would be thrilled to know that this promising star was really related to him in more than one way.

What do you think about this precious bond of Hailey Van Lith and Kobe Bryant? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section below.

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