About 24 hours after Hanna Cavinder posted on social media that she is returning to the Miami basketball program, her sister Haley stated the same on Thursday. Haley initially announced she would play her final season of college basketball at TCU during the 2024–25 season after taking 2023–24 off.
Haley reportedly wanted to play in 2023–24, but Hanna was burned out and was finished with basketball after that season. Haley was the more productive player for Miami during their one season with the Hurricanes in 2023–24. Miami advanced to the only Elite Eight in program history, with the Cavinder contributing in 2023.
Haley Cavinder was a star player in her one season with Miami. Cavinder averaged 12.2 points per game, 4.9 rebounds per game, 2.5 assists per game, shot 40.7 percent from the floor, 40.9 percent on three-point attempts and made 87.8 percent of her free throw attempts.
Cavinder earned second-team All-ACC in 2022-23. The return of Haley and Hanna Cavinder is big for Miami heading into their inaugural season under new head coach Tricia Cullop. The Cavinders were recruited to Miami and played one season under the recently retired Katie Meier.
Lemyah Hylton and Jasmyne Roberts are the only other 2024-25 Miami basketball team returnees. Miami brings in an excellent recruiting class led by guard Leah Harmon. Miami needs to add several transfers to fill out their roster. Haley leaving TCU coincided with former LSU and Louisville star Hailey Van Lith joining the Horned Frogs.
VanLith announced her transfer to TCU on Thursday. With the Cavinders, Hylton and Roberts returning, the next step for Cullop is adding size. Aurora Sanchez-Almon, a 2024 Miami signee is currently projected as the player on the roster for next season who is over 6’0.
In addition to 5’6 Harmon and 6’4 Sanchez-Almon, Miami signed guards, Simone Pelish, who is 6’0 and Ahnay Adams who is 5’6. Roberts is 5’10 and Hylton who is coming off of a season-ending injury in February is 5’11. The experience the Cavinders bring to Miami next season should be invaluable.
