Download our Free Mobile App!
Faster with Fewer Ads

Get App
Lakers Nation
  • Rumors
  • Schedule
    • Lakers 2025 Preseason Schedule
  • Videos
    • YouTube
    • Podcast
  • FAQ
  • About
    • About Lakers Nation
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
  • Download Our App

Download our Free Mobile App!
Faster with Fewer Ads

Get App
Lakers Nation
  • Rumors
  • Schedule
    • Lakers 2025 Preseason Schedule
  • Videos
    • YouTube
    • Podcast
  • FAQ
  • About
    • About Lakers Nation
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
  • Download Our App
Search
  • Rumors
  • Schedule
    • 2024 preseason
    • 2024-2025 regular season
  • Videos
    • YouTube
    • Podcast
  • FAQ
  • About
    • About Lakers Nation
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
  • Download Our App
Follow US
© 2024 Medium Large Sports Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Lakers Nation > Blog > Featured > Lakers Video: Louisville Star Hailey Van Lith Shares Kobe Bryant Wisdom After Advancing To NCAA Tournament’s Final Four
FeaturedVideo

Lakers Video: Louisville Star Hailey Van Lith Shares Kobe Bryant Wisdom After Advancing To NCAA Tournament’s Final Four

Damian Burchardt
Published: 03/30/2022
2 Min Read
Louisville’s Hailey Van Lith leaves the hotel and heads to the match up against Michigan in the NCAA Elite Eight in Wichita, Kansas.March 28, 2022 Sendoff2 11
SHARE

Kobe Bryant remains an inspiration for the next generations of basketball stars even after the Los Angeles Lakers legend’s tragic death.

Bryant partnered with Sports Academy CEO Chad Faulkner to launch the Mamba Sports Academy in 2018. There, the legendary Lakers hosted workouts for NBA and WNBA stars and trained the AAU girls’ basketball team of his daughter, Gianna.

In the summer of 2019, a top high school prospect in the country, Cashmere’s Hailey Van Lith, attended the Mamba team’s workouts after an invitation from Bryant — who recognized the point guard’s talent. She developed a close relationship with both Kobe and Gianna before the two died in a helicopter crash in January 2020.

Having graduated from Cashmere, Van Lith joined Louisville and has just advanced to the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament’s Final Four in her sophomore year. Asked what advice would Bryant likely give her ahead of the Cardinals’ semi-finals appearance, Van Lith gave a response that resonates with the NBA great’s fabled Mamba Mentality, via Jomboy Media:

Louisville’s Hailey Van Lith said Kobe Bryant would tell her “going fucking win this shit” ? pic.twitter.com/8MDub95mOR

— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) March 29, 2022

Van Lith scored a game-high 22 points to fire Louisville to its fourth Final Four appearance. In the semi-finals, the Cardinals will face No. 1 overall seed South Carolina on Friday.

Louisville is yet to win the national championship in the program’s 46-year history.

Nike to continue producing Bryant’s shoes

Vanessa Bryant has announced the family’s partnership with Nike will continue after months of uncertainty over Bryant’s famous shoe line’s future.

Under the agreement, the Bryant estate and Nike will partner to support underserved athletes, both boys and girls, in sports — with the efforts including a launch of a youth basketball center in Southern California.

Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Share 0
TAGGED:Hailey Van LithKobe BryantLos Angeles Lakers
ByDamian Burchardt
Follow:
Damian Burchardt is a sports writer who has covered basketball, soccer, and many other disciplines for numerous U.K. and U.S. media outlets, including The Independent, The Guardian, The Sun, The Berkshire Eagle, The Boston Globe, and The Ringer.
Sign Up for Our Newsletter
Get breaking Lakers News direct to your inbox.

Categories

  • News
  • Rumors
  • Games
  • History

Information

  • Advertise
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Get breaking Lakers News direct to your inbox.

© 2025 Medium Large Sports Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?