Virginia Tech Basketball: Elizabeth Kitley named to preseason watchlist

The 2023-24 college basketball season is right around the corner. In 17 days, the Virginia Tech women begin the season at home on Nov. 6 in a non-conference game against High Point at 5 p.m.

Expectations are high in Blacksburg following a memorable run to the Final Four last season, before losing in a National Semifinal to eventual champion LSU, 79-72. The ACC Tipoff is next week in Charlotte, North Carolina and the Hokies are going to be well represented with head coach Kenny Brooks and three players. One of those players is going to be Elizabeth Kitley, who was named to a preseason watchlist ahead of the new season.

Elizabeth Kitley named to watchlist for fourth consecutive season

Friday, it was announced that talented center Elizabeth Kitley was on the watchlist for the Basketball Hall of Fame/WBCA Lisa Leslie Center Award for this season. Kitley is one of the top centers in the country and a big reason why the Hokies were able to win the ACC Tournament before capturing the Seattle Regional in the NCAA to earn a spot in the Final Four in Dallas.

Kitley is a two-time ACC Player of the Year winner and averaged 18 points and 10.5 rebounds a game in 2022-23 while collecting an impressive 23 doubles-doubles and scoring 20-plus in 18 games for Virginia Tech.

A graduate student, Kitley is going to be a big part of what the Hokies are looking to accomplish this season after a memorable postseason run in the ACC and NCAA Tournament. The Hokies have a tough ACC schedule, but they also will be tested in the non-conference in November. On Nov. 9, they will play NCAA runner-up Iowa at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, and then at the end of the month, they will travel to Baton Rouge, La. for a rematch with LSU in the first SEC/ACC Challenge. Once they get to conference play in December, they will be battle-tested, despite what ESPN thinks.