Elizabeth Kitley
Kitley in 2022
No. 33 – Virginia Tech Hokies
PositionCenter
LeagueAtlantic Coast Conference
Personal information
Born (2001-09-17) September 17, 2001
Summerfield, North Carolina, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Career information
High schoolNorthwest Guilford
(Greensboro, North Carolina)
CollegeVirginia Tech (2019–present)
Career highlights and awards
  • Second-team All-American – AP, USBWA (2023)
  • Third-team All-American – AP, USBWA (2022)
  • 2× WBCA Coaches' All-American (2022, 2023)
  • 2× ACC Player of the Year (2022, 2023)
  • 3× First-team All-ACC (2021–2023)
  • ACC Freshman of the Year (2020)
  • ACC All-Defensive Team (2023)
  • ACC All-Freshman Team (2020)

Elizabeth Ann Kitley (born September 17, 2001)[1][2] is an American college basketball player for the Virginia Tech Hokies of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

Early life and high school career

Kitley grew up playing basketball, softball and volleyball, preferring softball by fifth grade. 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).[3] 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.[4] She helped her team win another state title in her junior season, repeating as MVP of the title game.[5] Before her senior season, Kitley suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament during an Amateur Athletic Union game. Following surgery, she was sidelined until the final two games of the season.[6] Rated a five-star recruit by ESPN,[7] she committed to play for Virginia Tech at the college level under head coach Kenny Brooks.[8]

College career

On November 5, 2019, Kitley made her collegiate debut and scored a season-high 27 points, shooting 13-of-15 from the field, in a 105–41 win over Saint Francis (PA). She recorded the most points by a Virginia Tech freshman in a debut.[9] As a freshman, Kitley averaged 12.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game and was named Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Freshman of the Year.[10] On December 4, 2020, she posted a sophomore season-high 30 points and 11 rebounds in an 84–59 win against Appalachian State.[11] On January 17, 2021, Kitley tied the program single-game record with 21 rebounds, while scoring 18 points in a 67–64 loss to Wake Forest.[12] One week later, she scored 30 points for a second time, along with 13 rebounds, in an 89–87 loss to AP No. 2 NC State.[13] Kitley averaged 18.2 points and 10.4 rebounds per game as a sophomore, earning first-team All-ACC honors.[3]

On November 11, 2021, Kitley tallied 34 points and nine rebounds, making a program-record 17 field goals, in a 75–38 win over George Washington.[14] On December 19, she posted 34 points and 13 rebounds in a 92–75 win against Florida State.[15] Kitley sustained a right shoulder injury against North Carolina in the quarterfinals of the 2022 ACC tournament and was sidelined as her team lost to NC State in the following game.[16] She returned for the first round of the NCAA tournament. During the game, Kitley set the Virginia Tech single-game scoring record with 42 points in an 84–81 loss to 12th-seeded Florida Gulf Coast.[17] As a junior, she averaged 18.1 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game. Kitley was named ACC Player of the Year and repeated as a first-team All-ACC selection. She received third-team All-American recognition from the AP and United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) and was a member of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-America team.[18]

On February 23, 2023, Kitley set the Virginia Tech career scoring record, while posting 21 points and 10 rebounds and making the game-winning shot at the buzzer, in a 61–59 win over North Carolina.[19] Three days later, she had a senior season-high 29 points and 11 rebounds in a 65–52 victory over Georgia Tech.[20] At the 2023 NCAA tournament, Kitley led Virginia Tech to its first Final Four.[21] As a senior, she averaged 18.2 points, 10.7 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game, becoming Virginia Tech's all-time leader in points, field goals, blocks and double-doubles. Kitley repeated as ACC Player of the Year, made the WBCA All-America team and was named a second-team All-American by the AP and USBWA.[22] Despite being a projected first-round pick in the 2023 WNBA draft, she returned for a fifth season of eligibility, granted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[23]

Personal life

Kitley's father, Ralph, played professional basketball in Germany and Brazil, following a college career at Wake Forest. He later became a high school principal, teacher and basketball coach.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Brooks, Kenny [@CoachBrooksVT] (September 17, 2019). "Our youngin is finally 18! Help us wish @elizabethkitley a happy birthday!" (Tweet). Retrieved June 10, 2023 – via Twitter.
  2. ↑ "Undergraduate Spring 2023 Graduates". Virginia Tech. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 London, Mike (January 23, 2022). "Ralph and Elizabeth: Kitleys are a basketball family". Salisbury Post. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  4. ↑ Mundy, J.P. (March 11, 2017). "Northwest Guilford girls makes history with 4-A basketball title". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  5. ↑ Mundy, J.P. (March 10, 2018). "Northwest Guilford's 'true grit' leads to another title". News & Record. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  6. ↑ Berman, Mark (March 1, 2022). "Center of attention: Virginia Tech's Elizabeth Kitley named ACC player of the year". The Roanoke Times. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Elizabeth Kitley 2019 High School Girls' Basketball Profile". ESPN. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  8. ↑ Sirera, Joe (December 7, 2017). "Northwest Guilford's Liz Kitley says Virginia Tech 'just felt like home'". News & Record. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Kitley honored by ACC after stellar opening week". Virginia Tech Athletics. November 11, 2019. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  10. ↑ Epps Jr., Wayne (March 17, 2020). "Women's basketball around the Commonwealth provided plenty to remember in 2019-20". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  11. ↑ Berman, Mark (December 4, 2020). "Elizabeth Kitley scores 30 points in Virginia Tech win over Appalachian State". The Roanoke Times. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  12. ↑ Niziolek, Mike (January 17, 2021). "Virginia Tech women's basketball struggles down the stretch in loss to Wake Forest". The Roanoke Times. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Kitley registers 30-point afternoon in 89-87 loss at No. 2 NC State". Virginia Tech Athletics. January 24, 2021. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Elizabeth Kitley opens season as ACC's Co-Player of the Week". Virginia Tech Athletics. November 15, 2021. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  15. ↑ Ferrante, Bob (December 19, 2021). "Kitley, Amoore too much as VT defeats FSU". The Osceola. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  16. ↑ Philippou, Alexa (March 5, 2022). "Virginia Tech Hokies' ACC women's basketball tournament run ends without star Elizabeth Kitley in loss to NC State". ESPN. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Kitley scores 42 points in Virginia Tech's 84-81 loss to FGCU". Virginia Tech Athletics. March 18, 2022. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  18. ↑ "Elizabeth Kitley – Women's Basketball". Virginia Tech Athletics. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  19. ↑ Berman, Mark (February 24, 2023). "Tech's Kitley sets Hokies' all-time scoring record, then hits buzzer-beater winner". The Roanoke Times. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Kitley Scores 29, Tech Sets Single-Season ACC Wins Record". Daily News-Record. Associated Press. February 26, 2023. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  21. ↑ Campbell, Ed (March 30, 2023). "Kitley leads Hokies into first-ever Final Four". News & Record. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  22. ↑ "Elizabeth Kitley an AP preseason All-American Tuesday". Virginia Tech Athletics. October 24, 2023. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  23. ↑ Philippou, Alexa (April 2, 2023). "Hokies star Elizabeth Kitley returning for fifth season". ESPN. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
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