Ta'Niya Latson commits to Dawn Staley, South Carolina in transfer portal
Ta'Niya Latson commits to Dawn Staley, South Carolina in transfer portal
Show Caption
Hide Caption
South Carolina Dawn Staley signs baby before cutting Elite Eight nets down
After an Elite Eight win over Duke, South Carolina coach Dawn Staley signed a baby, basketball and shirts for fans before cutting down the nets in Birmingham
Dawn Staley hasn't wasted any time in retooling her roster.
South Carolina women's basketball on Tuesday landed a commitment from former Florida State guard Ta'Niya Latson, by way of the NCAA transfer portal.
Latson is coming off a big junior season with the Seminoles, finishing as the nation's leading scorer at 25.2 points per game while averaging 4.6 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game. She also shot 45.1% from the field this past season, just 0.4% off her career-high of 45.5% from the field that she set in her freshman season.
REQUIRED READING: Women's March Madness winners, losers: UConn, Paige Bueckers earn storybook ending
"Feelin' cocky!" Latson wrote on a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday.
Latson entered the transfer portal on March 27 after Florida State lost to LSU in the second round in the women's NCAA Tournament.
Landing Latson is a big one for South Carolina, as it gives Staley and her staff a new go-to scorer to pair with Raven Johnson, Joyce Edwards and MiLaysia Fulwiley. The Gamecocks are set to lose Te-Hina Paopao, Bree Hall and Sania Feagin, with all three players being out of eligibility.
Shortly after Latson announced her decision to transfer to South Carolina, who has made five consecutive Final Four appearances, her new coach took to social media to break her silence and welcome her newest player to Columbia, South Carolina.
"A birdie just flew in nest!!" Staley wrote on X.
As noted by The Greenville News' Lulu Kesin, it is also a reunion for Latson with Johnson, Fulwiley and Edwards, as Latson played high school basketball in Florida with Johnson and played AAU basketball with both Fulwiley and Edwards.
In three seasons at Florida State, Latson averaged 25.2 points per game while shooting 44.8% from the field. The Miami native on Feb. 27 became the third player in ACC history to score 2,000 career points in her first three seasons during Florida State's win over then-No. 3 Notre Dame.
Latson was the No. 1-ranked player in the transfer portal on ESPN per Charlie Creme, ranking one spot higher than former Notre Dame guard Olivia Miles, who reportedly committed to TCU on Tuesday.
South Carolina finished 34-4 overall on the season while finishing as the national runner-up in the women's NCAA Tournament after falling 82-59 to UConn in the national championship game on April 6.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
9 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Louisville makes 6th CWS with 3-2 win over Miami on King's RBI double in 7th
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Eddie King Jr. doubled in the winning run in the seventh inning to lift Louisville to a 3-2 win over Miami on Sunday, advancing the Cardinals to their sixth College World Series. King's clutch hit came after Jake Munroe's two-out single and a wild pitch. Advertisement Neither team was among the top 16 seeds, but the Cardinals (39-21) were the surprise winners of the Nashville Regional hosted by overall No. 1 seed Vanderbilt and Miami won Southern Mississippi's Hattiesburg Regional. Louisville will face the Oregon State-Florida State winner in Omaha, Nebraska, later this week. Miami (34-26) was hoping for its 26th CWS appearance. Miami took the lead on Max Galvin's two-run homer in the third. The Cardinals got those back in the fourth on an RBI double by Zion Rose and a fielder's choice. Miami starter Ethan Eberle went five innings, allowing six hits. Jake Schweitzer (4-2) gave up two hits and two walks in three innings. Justin West got two outs in the ninth but also walked two before Brennyn Cutts got a flyout for his second save. Will Smith (3-1), the third of five Miami pitchers, took the loss. ___ AP college sports:
USA Today
15 minutes ago
- USA Today
'He was wonderful to coach': Nate Oats believes Clifford Omoruyi can flourish in the NBA
'He was wonderful to coach': Nate Oats believes Clifford Omoruyi can flourish in the NBA Clifford Omoruyi established himself as a dynamic player in college, and the former Alabama standout is looking to showcase that ability and more ahead of the 2025 NBA draft. Omoruyi was born in Nigeria and moved to New Jersey at the age of 14. He eventually committed to play at Rutgers in March 2020 after fielding over 20 offers, becoming the first consensus top-50 recruit to join the program since Kadeem Jack in 2010. The 6-foot-11 center saw steady improvement over his four years with the Scarlet Knights, culminating with two All-Big Ten Defensive Team selections. He played with a relentless motor, fighting for every rebound while protecting the rim at a high level. Omoruyi averaged 10.4 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.9 blocks on 51.2% shooting from the field as a senior during the 2023-24 season. He ranked fourth in the country in blocked shots (93) and was the first player with at least eight blocks in multiple conference games since 1999-00. "Just being Nigerian, you've got to push yourself to be better," Omoruyi told Rookie Wire of his energetic playing style. "Everybody is trying to win and chase their dreams, so if I don't do it, someone is going to do it. It is just better if I push myself to do it." Fresh off a tremendous season, Omoruyi entered the transfer portal and was viewed as one of the top available interior defenders. He eventually chose the Crimson Tide over the likes of Georgetown, Kansas State and North Carolina, among other programs. Omoruyi helped Alabama advance to the Elite Eight for the second straight year, averaging 7.9 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 37 appearances. He registered two double-doubles and ranked ninth in the country in 2-point field goal percentage (73.9). The 23-year-old finished in double figures 13 times this past season, including a season-high 17 points, four rebounds, three steals and two blocks on March 21 in a win over Robert Morris in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. "The best thing he does is protect the rim and rebound, and you've got to have that to win," Alabama head coach Nate Oats told Rookie Wire. "We are the only school in the country that has made the last two Elite Eights, so he helped us have a really successful year. We competed for an SEC championship, and the SEC was the best conference in the history of college basketball this year, and we were one of the top teams. He helped us with all of that." Omoruyi stepped into a starting role at Alabama, averaging 19.2 minutes per game, a decrease from 26.9 minutes per game the previous season. Oats and the team used a more pro-style approach designed to maximize their personnel, including Omoruyi. Because of their depth, Omoruyi wasn't required to log 30-plus minutes a night. By keeping him mostly in the 18-24 range, Omoruyi was able to continue to make high-energy plays by chasing loose balls, crashing the glass and protecting the paint. Omoruyi adjusted well to how the Crimson Tide operated on offense by serving as a consistent lob threat, with his athleticism and 7-foot, 6 1/4-inch wingspan. He put pressure on the rim as a roller in pick-and-roll situations and expanded his offensive game by handling the ball more. "He definitely wasn't used to playing at the pace we did, but I think he picked that up as it went on," Oats said. "He was used to getting the ball a lot more in the post, coming from Rutgers. He had no complaints ever about scoring less. He was really just a team guy and did whatever we needed him to." Omoruyi is now focused on proving himself, with team workouts and interviews ramping up before the draft on June 25-26 in Brooklyn, New York. He signed with Edge Sports, which also represents Indiana Pacers forward Enrique Freeman, among other players. The Nigerian has made his 3-point shooting a point of emphasis during his offseason workouts, putting up at least 500 shots in the gym on most days. He is also working on various other elements of his game, such as pick-and-rolls, ball handling and attacking the rim. "I have really improved greatly because I've been working on everything," Omoruyi said. "During the season, my coaches knew I could shoot, but that wasn't my game. They just wanted me to be a better player and work on what I'm good at, so I've been working on adding the 3-pointer to my game, and that is going well." Omoruyi previously tested the predraft process in 2023, competing in the G League Elite Camp in Chicago, Illinois. He views himself as a completely different player than he was at that time, and is more comfortable doing different things on the court. That experience prepared him for this year, after he finished his collegiate career with the Crimson Tide. He is looking to make the most of this process and is eager to show teams that he can be a reliable player at the next level. "I can be the best version of myself, I just need the opportunity to get there and keep doing what I'm doing," Omoruyi said. "I'm already a great defensive player, and I can improve more. I just have to keep improving on my shooting and everything." Omoruyi is considered a potential second-round pick, with many projecting him to be a productive backup center. He has completed several workouts with teams, including the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers, and has additional visits scheduled this month. After a productive five years in college, Omoruyi is on the verge of advancing to the next stage of his career. He left his mark at each stop over that span, and is looking to do it again in the NBA. "He is one of the best kids I've ever coached," Oats said. "He is great. He has a high IQ and is all about the team. He was wonderful to coach. Whoever gets him is going to get a great kid. I hope he ends up in a great situation where he gets a real chance to play. I think he'll take full advantage of it."
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Mavericks reportedly have workout set with Cooper Flagg ahead of NBA Draft
The Dallas Mavericks now have a workout set with Cooper Flagg. The Mavericks have a scheduled private visit for the former Duke star on June 17, according to ESPN's Shams Charania and Jonathan Givony. Dallas, which owns the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft later this month, does not plan to work out any other prospects before the draft. Flagg isn't planning any additional visits, either, and 'both sides are aligned on his arrival' in Dallas, per the report. Advertisement While things can still change between now and the NBA Draft on June 25, all signs continue to point toward the Mavericks selecting Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick. The Mavericks, just months after trading away superstar Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers, won the NBA Draft lottery for the first time in franchise history this spring. They had just a 1.8% chance to win the lottery. Flagg has long been considered the clear favorite to go No. 1 in the draft this summer. The 18-year-old, who was one of the most coveted prospects in college basketball history, averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists with the Blue Devils last season while helping them reach the Final Four. The Blue Devils dominated in the ACC, where they went 19-1, and Flagg was the consensus National Player of the Year. Advertisement While the Mavericks were thrust into turmoil after the Dončić trade — the fan base immediately turned on general manager Nico Harrison after the deal, repeatedly and loudly calling for his ousting — Flagg will get to step into a roster alongside Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving, who is recovering from an ACL injury. The Mavericks, who reached the NBA Finals in 2024, went just 39-43 last season and finished in 10th in the Western Conference standings.
