The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced today the 20 watch-list candidates for the 2023 Lisa Leslie Award. Named after the three-time All-American,1994 National Player of the Year and Class of 2015 Hall of Famer, the annual award in its sixth year recognizes the top centers in women's NCAA Division I college basketball. A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.
Kitley was amongst the ACC leaders in scoring (18.1), rebounds (9.8), blocks (2.4) and FG% (.551) throughout the season while also recording 77 blocks. She is one of four athletes in the nation to produce that stat line last season along with Yale's Camila Emsbo, South Carolina's Aliyah Boston and Jackson State's Amesha Williams-Holiday.
Her 15 double-doubles led the conference as did her 13 games of 20 or more points. She scored 34 twice and finished the year with a 42-point performance in the NCAA Tournament, the second-most ever scored in the opening round of the competition. She recorded four or more blocks in nine different contests. Kitley's 237 made field goals, set a program record for a single season. She ranks ninth all-time at VT in scoring (1,410), fifth in rebounds (800) and third in blocks (187).
The Summerfield, North Carolina native was a finalist for the award each of the last two seasons.
Her numerous accolades from last season include: AP All-America Third Team, Kay Yow Scholar Athlete of the Year, Finalist for the Lisa Leslie Award, Semifinalist for the Naismith Award, WBCA All-American, USBWA Third Team All-American and First Team All-ACC and All-Defensive Team.
Kitley was named Preseason ACC Player of the Year earlier this week and is looking to become the 10th athlete to win that award two or more times. Each athlete to previously accomplish the feat did so in consecutive seasons.
Tech will open the season at home on Monday November 7, when they welcome Mount St. Mary's to Carilion Clinic Court at Cassell Coliseum for a 5 p.m. tip against the Mountaineers. That game can be seen on ACC Network Extra.
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