COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina senior guard Ta’Niya Latson has once again earned national recognition, securing a spot on the prestigious Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year Preseason Top 20 Watchlist, as announced by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
This marks Latson’s fourth consecutive year appearing on the list — a testament to her consistency and elite talent. Impressively, she has reached the finalist round in each of her first three seasons.
Latson joined the South Carolina Gamecocks this past summer following a stellar three-year career at Florida State, where she emerged as one of the most prolific scorers in the nation. She led all of Division I in scoring last season with 25.2 points per game, earning AP Second-Team All-America honors and cementing her place among college basketball’s most dynamic guards.
“Ta’Niya brings an incredible combination of scoring ability, competitiveness, and leadership,” South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley said earlier this preseason. “She has proven herself year after year, and we’re excited to see her impact our program both on and off the court.”
A three-time First-Team All-ACC selection, Latson owns a career shooting percentage of 44.8% and averages 22.5 points per game across 93 career contests. She’s hit double figures in 86 of those matchups and posted 62 games with 20 or more points, including five double-doubles and a triple-double. During her Florida State tenure, she led the Seminoles in scoring 68 times.
Fans will have the chance to make their voices heard during the Fan Voting portion of the Meyers Drysdale Award selection process, which begins Friday, Oct. 31. The current 20-player list will be narrowed down to 10 candidates in late January, five finalists in February, and eventually one winner in March, when the Hall of Fame Selection Committee, along with Meyers Drysdale herself, will announce the recipient.
The award honors the top shooting guard in women’s college basketball each season, celebrating excellence in scoring, playmaking, and leadership. Latson joins an elite group of national contenders, including Azzi Fudd (UConn), Flau’Jae Johnson (LSU), Gianna Kneepkens (UCLA), and Ruby Whitehorn (Tennessee).
Alongside the Meyers Drysdale honor, other members of the “Women’s Starting Five” awards include:
- Nancy Lieberman Award (Point Guard)
- Cheryl Miller Award (Small Forward)
- Katrina McClain Award (Power Forward)
- Lisa Leslie Award (Center)
The No. 2/2-ranked Gamecocks will continue preseason action on Thursday, Oct. 30, facing No. 11/11 North Carolina in an exhibition at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. Their home opener follows on Monday, Nov. 3, against Grand Canyon at Colonial Life Arena — tipoff at 7 p.m. ET, streaming live on SECN+.
Fans can stay updated on team news and events at GamecocksOnline.com or by following @GamecockWBB on social media.
2025-26 Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year Award Preseason Watchlist Highlights:
- Ta’Niya Latson, South Carolina
- Azzi Fudd, UConn
- Flau’Jae Johnson, LSU
- Gianna Kneepkens, UCLA
- Ruby Whitehorn, Tennessee
- Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt
- Kaylene Smikle, Maryland
- Payton Verhulst, Oklahoma
