Elizabeth Kitley and Cayla King Announce Return for Fifth Season
Elizabeth Kitley and Cayla King After ACC Championship (Photo Credit to WUNC)
BLACKSBURG, VA - Just days after a record smashing senior season that saw triumph, heartbreak, history, and magic had come to a close, two-time ACC Player of the Year, Elizabeth (Liz) Kitley announced that she would return to Virginia Tech for her fifth year of eligibility.
Shortly after Liz’s decision had surfaced, sharpshooting royalty, Cayla King, made it known that she would be running it back for one last go as well. For King, the decision to come back was a no brainer.
“It was honestly, for me, like a simple and easy decision. I've been here for four years, I loved it. The fan base, like everybody here, makes me feel loved,” remarked King. She later added...
“We made our own decisions. I feel like it was a big decision. So we left it to each other to do what's best for each one of us. And whatever each other would have done, we would have supported and known the reasons behind that… It just goes to show that this place here is a good place to be, considering we both on our own decided to come back,”.
The two were high school teammates at Northwest Guilford in North Carolina, where they won two state championships together before being a part of the same recruiting class under Kenny Brooks at Virginia Tech.
“To know us is to know we're very, very close. They're like my daughters. I've watched them come in here and they've grown not only as basketball players but as people… When we talked at the beginning of the year, I said, 'I want you to go out and enjoy every aspect of the season and we'll talk when the time is appropriate.' “, said Head Coach Kenny Brooks. He later added…
“Just very happy, and extremely happy that these two are coming back next year. You won't hear us say that we're going to do it again. I think that would discredit how hard it is to get there, and we want to really appreciate how hard it was to get there and the achievement that we had, but our goal is still the same… we'll do everything we can to get back,”.
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This past season, Kitley averaged a double-double with 18.2 points per game and 10.7 rebounds. Also in the starting rotation, King averaged 8.3 points per contest while amassing the best 3-point percentage of any postseason contributor on the team at 37.6% from beyond the arch. Not to mention both of their values on the defensive side of the court.
Kitley and King rejoin star senior guard Georgia Amoore, who won ACC Tournament MVP and stole the show throughout the magical NCAA Tournament run. The “Big Three” are back.
Virginia Tech loses key pieces in Kayana Traylor, Taylor Soule, and D’asia Gregg, but Kenny Brooks has put an emphasis on the transfer portal and is bringing in a freshman class that is loaded with four Top-100 recruits.
Three talented transfers will play for the Hokies next season. Minnesota forward Alanna Micheaux was the first addition out of the portal before Matilda Ekh out of Michigan State hopped on board. Coach Brooks may have saved the best for last with the acquisition of Olivia Summiel from Wake Forest, who should add some extra depth for the Hokies.
Tech also has solid talent waiting in the wings with Carleigh Wenzel, who redshirted her first year on campus, but is expected to play a big role in 2023-24.
Between the return of the big three, impressive transfers, talented freshmen, and gritty young angst, Virginia Tech has quickly become national championship contenders again next season.
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