Virginia Tech Center Elizabeth Kitley Announces Her Return To Blacksburg

By: David Cunningham | Managing Editor
Virginia Tech center Elizabeth Kitley is returning for a fifth season. (Jaylynn Nash/ACC)

On Sunday night, Virginia Tech All-American center Elizabeth Kitley announced she’ll return to Blacksburg for the 2023-24 season.

A two-time ACC Player of the Year, Kitley could become the third individual in league history to win the award three times, joining Alana Beard (Duke, 2001-04) and Alyssa Thomas (Maryland, 2011-14). A 6-6 center from Summerfield, N.C., Kitley averaged 18 points and 11 rebounds this season.

Kitley was one of four Tech players eligible to return for a fifth season thanks to a COVID year, along with Cayla King, Taylor Geiman and Ashley Owusu. Geiman has a job lined up after graduation, which head coach Kenny Brooks previously mentioned; Owusu told reporters in Greensboro during the ACC tournament that she was not planning on using her final year of eligibility. As of 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 2, King had yet to announce a decision.

Kitley’s statement comes after a Final Four appearance for the Hokies, their first in program history. Alongside point guard Georgia Amoore, Kitley helped Virginia Tech reach heights never seen before in the program. The school won an ACC championship, was a No. 1 seed, advanced to the Elite Eight and to the Final Four this year, all firsts.

WNBA mock drafts had Kitley as a top-10 pick. But in a new era with NIL, along with the opportunity to continue to play with Amoore, one of her best friends, and in a place she is adored and idolized, it’s a move that makes sense. She’s a centerpiece of a Hokies squad that made history, and should King return and Tech reload, it’ll be a group poised for success come 2023-24.

Kitley was a finalist for multiple national player of the year awards, including the Naismith Trophy and the Wooden Award. She’s a two-time ACC Scholar Athlete of the Year, too, and a two-time All-ACC Defensive Team performer.

She is the all-time leading scorer at Virginia Tech with 2,048 points and counting. On top of that, she has a program-best 271 blocks. Across four seasons, she started all 122 games in which she appeared, including 35 in 2022-23. 

Kitley is the program’s leader in double-doubles, too. She recorded her 57th of her career in the Final Four vs. LSU on Friday in Dallas, posting 18 points (7-of-12 FG) 12 rebounds and seven blocks.

Here’s an updated look at the scholarship numbers for the Hokies, who have plenty of wiggle room and flexibility for next season:

With Kitley’s return, Virginia Tech will be expected to make some noise next season. She and Amoore, who earned Honorable Mention All-American honors from the Associated Press, will surely conquer headlines. The Hokies will be in the conversation, both in the ACC and nationally; how Kenny Brooks retools his roster to complement Kitley and Amoore will become more clear in the coming months.

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  1. Hey we have 4 top 100 espn players coming in ,future looks bright, can’t say as much for men’s team, unless Basile and Cattoor come back, hopefully we will know soon.

  2. Why would she play professional bball when she can go to med school and make twice the money of an WNBA player (~ $230k max)

    1. DYK your primary care physician makes about $130k/yr. You need to be a specialist to make money in the medical field and then you likely need to perform surgery to do so.

  4. VT was ahead by 11 points toward the end of the game with LSU and may well have beaten them if Kitley, Amoore and some others had a few minutes to rest. A deeper rotation next year could well get VT into the championship game and maybe to winning it.

  7. KB has some serious talent incoming over the next several classes. I’ve seen Strack play several times over the last 18 months; very talented, could contribute as Fr. The entire incoming class is strong! Hope we keep Hazelton and Henry in the fold as both are really special players imo.

  8. I wonder if Raven had some input? She likes her trips to B’burg with Mom & Dad. Liz can get a year of Med School going too. I would like it if Cayla returns also, to helps with the D and an outside shooter.

    We need to find another Soule, she really gave the team some Zing.

    GO HOKIES!!!

  9. Given how close King is with Kitley, I’d be shocked if she doesn’t return too.

  10. She’s back and this time she’s pissed 😀 excited to have most of the core back. Look forward to seeing next years team.

  11. What an amazing Hokie. Clearly one of our all time greats. And she’s not done yet!

  13. Great news. David, you should add player height’s and positions to your spreadsheet.

  14. Question about scholarships – does the team get 15 each year? There is going to be big expectations for this team next year.

  15. Attended every game we could this season doing individual game tix. Just bought season tix for next year was just waiting for her decision!

  16. What job is Geiman taking? As for the team, 10′ short of playing for the NC! LSU dominated Iowa in a way they didn’t us. Way to go Ladies! Nothing to apologize for.

  17. Great! Hope she comes back with more range on her shot, maybe event a good 3 pointer, that would make her even more awesome! Hope King comes back too, and works on her midrange shot and dribble penetration.

  18. Great news, and after LSU’s convincing win in the final, it is even more apparent just how good this team was, and how close we came to a title.

  19. Accidenti! woo-hoo. I don’t know what her options were, if she were getting into medical school there’s a little part of me that says “Go” but I think she’s best friends w/Georgia, I mean, like really bff like you had when you were a kid and it even hurts me thinking of her moving on and that’s more than good enough for me.

    I wish all of them could stay but getting a 6’3″ forward from Hamburg NY.

    1. She’s not going to medical school any time soon. She loves to play basketball and will play professionally.

      1. In that case it would work out perfectly, eg, Rebecca Lobo suggested she needs to work on a little more range on her outside shots and she’s a “young” senior, only turning 22 in September. (ah, to be 22 again…but I digress) Just me though, time is not free, the earlier you learn stuff the better you will retain it. Has she out and out said that or just hinted at that?

  21. Let’s hope Kenny finds 3/4 with some heft and a great personality to match what we already have 👍

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