At the start of July, South Carolina’s high-profile transfer guard Ta’Niya Latson addressed the media in Columbia for the first time since arriving on campus. The former Florida State star offered insight on her move to USC, her connection with head coach Dawn Staley, and what she hopes to accomplish in her final year of college basketball.
On Dawn Staley and NBA Interest
Latson didn’t shy away when asked about reports of NBA teams, including the New York Knicks, showing interest in Coach Staley.
“That’s coach. Like, she’s Dawn Staley, that’s the standard,” Latson said. “I feel like coaches outside, like the NBA, should be able to come to her. You know, she’s Dawn Staley, like I said, but we’re gonna try our best to keep her. That’s up for coach to decide.”
Why South Carolina?
The former ACC Freshman of the Year admitted she had no shortage of suitors once she entered the transfer portal.
“I talked to a lot of schools. LSU, UConn, Tennessee… I talked to a lot of schools, but ultimately, I knew my goals and I knew my vision, and South Carolina had that,” Latson said.
Despite major NIL offers, she made it clear her priorities extended beyond money.
“I mean, that’s the name of the game now,” she explained. “NIL is such a huge thing now, especially with women’s basketball. That was gonna be the thing in the portal, and I knew it was gonna come. But like I said, I have goals outside of just money and things that are being thrown at me. I know my vision, and all that’s gonna come, but I have a lot of goals.”
Role Transition and Playing Style
Latson was Florida State’s go-to scorer, but at USC she’ll share the spotlight with a deep roster of offensive options. She sees that as a positive.
“It’s not really a challenge for me because I’ve played with all these girls before in AAU, and we were such a talented AAU team,” she said. “When I went from that to Florida State, it was a big change for me. That was the biggest change for me, taking all those shots, honestly. I know what I need, and I know what the WNBA scouts want. I know how important it is to be under control, efficient, and also be able to spread the floor and make good passes for my teammates.”
Chemistry With Raven Johnson
Her reunion with high school teammate and close friend Raven Johnson also played a major role in her decision.
“Raven is Raven. That’s my sister, and I knew, me talking to her, she was gonna definitely convince me to come here. It made the decision way easier for me,” Latson said.
When asked about their on-court connection, she smiled.
“We just read each other really, really well. We’ve been reading each other like that since high school. She knows my spots. I know her spots… She’s giving me that confidence too, to be myself.”
Goals at South Carolina
Beyond chasing a national championship, Latson set individual targets for herself.
“For me, SEC Player of the Year. I’m gonna bet on myself every time, everywhere I go,” she said. “That’s something that is a goal for me, but ultimately, winning. Winning, being consistent, working on my shot, getting more efficient from three.”
She’s focused on improving her three-point shooting, turnover-to-assist ratio, and rebounding as she adjusts to the physicality of SEC basketball.
“My turnover-to-assist ratio needs to be better. That’s something I’m really trying to work on. And then rebounding the ball, because I’m in SEC now, baby, so I gotta work on that.”
Adjusting to Columbia and the Fan Base
The guard admitted she’s bracing for the atmosphere inside Colonial Life Arena.
“The atmosphere is crazy from what I’ve heard. I’ve never played at South Carolina, and they say it’s like 17,000 fans a night. I’m like, ooh, wow, we did not have that. That’s something that’s gonna be an adjustment for me for sure,” Latson said.
She’s already felt welcomed off the court, too.
“The people here are very nice. That’s something that was a shocker to me, because I’m not really from up here. They were really nice and I really appreciate it.”
Looking Ahead
For Latson, this final season isn’t just about personal accolades—it’s about contributing to a team full of “dogs,” as she described it.
“Talented, dogs. We all got dogs,” she said of the roster. “I feel like even after practice, that’s not enough for us; we want to go get more shots up. It’s personable, and we need to get to that championship and win it.”
As the season approaches, Latson is betting on herself and embracing the challenge of thriving under Dawn Staley’s demanding but supportive leadership.
