Florida State Women's Basketball: Ta'Niya Latson in Store For Big Junior Year

The Florida State Seminoles got a steal when they recruited Ta’Niya Latson. While other schools weren’t paying attention to her, the Noles knew something special was brewing when she stepped foot in Tallahassee. Since then, Latson has had a terrific two seasons at Florida State while winning Multiple Freshman of the Year Honors as well as being a two-time All-ACC First Team member. 

I will continue to reiterate my statement on Latson: she’s one of the best scorers in the country. When conversing about the top players in College Basketball, her name should be in the conversation. Latson has continued to prove herself as a standout talent and has notable performances where she’s shined in Florida State’s success. If you ask me, Latson has a chance to become one of the greatest players to wear a Florida State Seminoles jersey. 

Somehow, Latson has been overlooked as one of the best scorers in the country. Even as she’s dominated on many nights for Florida State, fans still are unaware of her greatness. When I talked to Florida State Associate Head Coach Bill Ferrara about Latson being underrated, his answer was simple. Florida State has to make a deep Tournament run for many to give Latson the recognition she deserves. 

Winning is something that Ta’Niya Latson wants for herself and her team. It’s the reason why she competes hard on a nightly basis. It’s also part of the reason why carries the load and leads Florida State to success. The Seminoles haven’t made it past the first round of the NCAA Tournament since 2019. They had a chance to advance this past season before losing a tough matchup against Alabama. 

A new year means new beginnings. For Latson as a Junior, the area she wants to improve upon is leadership. “I just want to be more of a vocal leader and encourage my teammates,” Latson stated in an interview. Throughout her two seasons, Latson has had the luxury of playing next to upperclassmen to learn about what it takes to be a leader. With that being said, she’ll look to take her experience and apply it this upcoming season. 

With great leadership can come recognition. If Latson continues to thrive as a leader, that means Florida State will have a successful season. If Florida State has a successful season, that means she will get her flowers as one of the most talented players in the country. It’s time the world pays attention to Ta’Niya Latson. She’s proven to be one of the more electrifying talents and that’s going to continue her junior year. While the goal is to help the team succeed, Latson should selfishly look to add to her resume as well. 

Winning ACC Player of the Year is possible for Latson. It won’t be an easy award to come out with as the conference features several great players. Talents like Hannah Hidalgo, Olivia Miles, Saniya Rivers, and others will be competing next to Latson for the ACC Player of the Year award. To come out on top, the Seminoles junior must continue to stand out as the top player in the conference. 

The 2024-25 season will be a big one for Ta’Niya Latson. If people were impressed with what they saw through her first two seasons, just wait to see what’s in store for year three. Latson is approaching this season with a chip on her shoulder. She hears the noise and knows that she’s been left out of the best player conversations. With that being said, Latson will be on a mission this season to put the world on notice.