In March this year, Ta’Niya Latson entered the transfer portal after spending three years with the Florida State Seminoles. The following month, she transferred to the South Carolina Gamecocks. She is now reunited with her high school teammate, Raven Johnson.
Johnson attended Westlake High School in Georgia. Latson, on the other hand, changed schools, one of which was Westlake. When asked about reuniting with Latson on “The Coop with Olivia Thompson,” Johnson said (11:54):
“She’s a hard worker. She pushes me to be better. She holds me accountable. She’s like a blood sister to me, so she wants to see me be successful. She knows how I take advice and criticism. She just knows me like a book, and she makes me play hard.”
Johnson said seeing Latson work so hard on her game and stay motivated pushes her to do better. She feels proud to see how well her high school teammate is doing and is excited that they’ll get to play together again.
When asked if she knew before other people that Latson was coming to South Carolina, Johnson said:
“I didn’t know, but I heard rumors. And trust me, when she entered the transfer portal, I was the first person to call and text her.”
Johnson seems to know why Latson made this move in the final year of her college career. She claimed that the 5’8 guard is looking for a title, and the Gamecocks were the best fit for her.
Johnson understands that her teammate wants to win, and the Gamecocks have been on a great run in the last few seasons. They won the NCAA title in 2022 and 2024. This season, they’re again one of the favorites.
Ta’Niya Latson revealed why she chose South Carolina over other programs
Dawn Staley struck gold with the transfer portal for her 2025-26 roster. She signed Latson, who is the nation’s leading scorer. According to the Greenville News, Latson said she had conversations with numerous schools, but South Carolina seemed like the perfect match for her.
“I talked to a lot of schools,” Latson said. “Ultimately, I knew my goals and I knew my vision and South Carolina had that.”
This will be Latson’s final year of college. At this stage, she would like to add a title to her resume before entering the WNBA draft.
“The coaching staff, the culture they have and I know the standard they have,” Latson added. “My goal is to be prepared for the next level and I know they have a lot of resources here.”
Latson praised coach Staley and her teammates. She felt confident that in this program, it would be smooth sailing for her.
This stint with the Gamecocks will also be great for her preparation for the WNBA. If she gets to play for the championship with SC, she will have a better understanding of how to handle the WNBA pressure.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in football, basketball, and more!
