“Why would anyone want to be in college for five years?” Hailey Van Lith once thought so, but she went on to continue for her fifth year at TCU. Funny how life changes. But it wasn’t easy for her. Through the many ups and downs, she battled mental health challenges, including periods of depression. But the star guard was far from giving up, and you see the fruits it bore when the Chicago Sky picked her as the 11th overall in the 2025 draft. And in that significant moment, her eyes seemed to linger over one person.

Following the draft, Van Lith immediately rushed off stage to kiss her boyfriend, leaving everyone gushing. Let’s find out who that is.

Who Is Hailey Van Lith’s Boyfriend, Jalen Suggs? 

Jalen Suggs is the shooting guard for the Orlando Magic and the better half of the Chicago Sky star. Born in Saint Paul, Jalen Rashon Suggs comes from humble beginnings in Minnesota, with his parents fueling his dream to become an NBA star.

His first glimpse into competitive basketball happened in high school at Minnehaha Academy in Minneapolis, showcasing his exceptional talent from a young age. In seventh grade, he played three games for the junior varsity team before being promoted to varsity. As an eighth-grade starter on the varsity squad, Suggs averaged 17.5 points, 4.4 steals, and four assists per game. This led to Suggs being scouted by Gonzaga University.

What is Jalen Suggs’s height and age?

At 6’5″, Jalen Suggs fits right in as a shooting guard, matching the league average for the position. What truly sets him apart, however, is his relentless intensity and high basketball IQ. Born on June 3, 2001, Suggs was selected 5th overall in the 2021 NBA Draft and, at just 23 years old, continues to develop into a key two-way player for the Orlando Magic.

When did Suggs meet Hailey Van Lith?

The exact date of when they met is not publicly known, but their relationship seems to have started in mid-2021. In June that year, Jalen Suggs and Hailey Van Lith shared matching Instagram posts captioned, “Yea, we solid on this end,” hinting at their relationship status as they spent time together in Los Angeles.

Their bond became more public the following month when Suggs affectionately referred to Van Lith as “Hey wife” in a photo featuring her in Lakers shorts. He’d then adorn her jersey during the March Madness in 2025 and sent fans into a frenzy accompanying her to New York ahead of the draft day. 

If we are to speculate, both athletes were part of the USA U19 national team and entered college in the same 2020 class. Given their shared experiences on and off the court, it is entirely possible that a connection or even romantic sparks could have developed during that time.

What does Jalen Suggs do for a living?

As we discussed above, Suggs is also a basketball player playing shooting guard for the Orlando Magic in the NBA, making for a power couple. While Suggs is slightly ahead in his development, Van Lith has also made the step up to the WNBA recently. Learning under a point guard like Courtney Vandersloot, it will not be long before we see her marshalling the court for Sky.

Who are Jalen Suggs’ Parents?

Jalen was born to Larry Suggs and Molly Manley. Larry was the one who would wake Jalen for those early morning practices, being a former football and basketball standout at Woodbury High School, while Molly was more of the emotional support. The Suggs bloodline is like the golden ichor. It includes NFL legend Terrell Suggs and NBA All-Star Eddie Jones. So right from the word go, Jalen was destined to make it to the NBA.

What is Jalen Suggs’ net worth in 2025?

Being in the NBA prints cash, that is no secret, but Suggs is only three years into his career. How much could he have already earned? He signed his rookie contract after being the fifth overall pick in 2021, which was a four-year $29.96 million deal with an annual average salary of $7,488,926. He then signed an extension in 2024– a five-year, $150.5 million deal. As of 2024, his net worth is estimated to be somewhere around $6 million and over.

 What is Jalen Suggs’ Instagram account?

Suggs is pretty active on Instagram, regularly posting pictures from the games and candid moments with his friends and family. He has 462K followers, which is increasing day by day, especially after his 2024 all-defensive selection and his relationship with Hailey Van Lith.

Suggs and Van Lith are the current power couple of basketball, with both of them supporting each other at their respective games. Van Lith will fight to make her mark in her rookie year while Suggs continues to get his output up year by year.