Brooke Wyckoff’s First Encounter with Ta’Niya Latson
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Brooke Wyckoff vividly recalls the first time she laid eyes on Ta’Niya Latson in action. It wasn’t in a bustling gym filled with the echo of bouncing basketballs and the squeak of sneakers on hardwood. Instead, it was on a small cell phone screen, a highlight reel captured from thousands of miles away, across the vast Pacific Ocean.
Back then, Latson was a middle schooler in Hawaii, already showcasing a unique blend of explosiveness and rugged toughness. Her relentless drive to the basket, coupled with her aggressiveness and athleticism, was unmistakable. Despite the geographical distance, Wyckoff knew she had to find a way to bring Latson into the fold.
Latson’s Rise to Prominence at Florida State
Fast forward seven years, and Latson has become the face of Wyckoff’s Florida State women’s basketball team. She’s one of the most decorated players in the school’s history. Despite her accolades, including being an All-American as a freshman and the nation’s leading scorer as a junior, Latson remains somewhat under the radar.
Does she wish for more recognition? Absolutely. But Latson finds comfort in the undeniable truth of her statistics. “I’m just thankful that I am in the position that I am in,” Latson told ESPN. “Stats don’t lie, and they can’t deny my stats.”
The Early Years: From Hawaii to the Mainland
To truly understand what makes Latson the player she is today, we must journey back to her time in Hawaii. With a father in the Army, Latson and her six siblings moved frequently, instilling in her the adaptability and discipline necessary to refine her basketball skills.
In Hawaii, Latson realized her potential in basketball. However, she and her father knew she needed more challenging competition than what was available against her peers. Her father would take her to the Army base to play pickup games against men, where the physicality of the game forced her to leverage her athleticism to navigate the court.
“It made me the player that I am,” Latson said. “They’re super tough. The competition is a physical game in Hawaii. It made me tough, and I feel like that’s why my work ethic is the way it is.”
Discovering Latson: A Star in the Making
Wyckoff wasn’t the only one to notice Latson’s potential. Prentice Beverly, a seasoned national evaluator of girls’ basketball talent, first saw Latson as a seventh grader in Hawaii. “She was putting up 60 and I was like, ‘Who is this?'” Beverly told ESPN. “Nobody had ever heard of her or seen her before, but she was destroying people.”
Latson’s talent was undeniable, and she soon found herself participating in “BallN Across Borders,” an event Beverly initiated. This event pitted girls’ basketball stars from the U.S. against their Canadian counterparts. Latson, alongside future stars like JuJu Watkins and O’Mariah Gordon, played in 2017, with Latson earning MVP honors.
The Move to Atlanta: A New Challenge
After Hawaii, Latson’s journey took her to Atlanta, where she played high school basketball at Westlake, a powerhouse program. Here, she encountered a different style of play—more open and fast-paced. For the first time, she wasn’t the standout player on her team, sharing the court with talents like Raven Johnson and Brianna Turnage.
During her sophomore year, Latson visited Florida State with Johnson and Turnage. Wyckoff, then an assistant coach, had already begun building a relationship with Latson. The visit solidified Latson’s connection to the school, and she received a scholarship offer on the spot.
South Florida: The Final High School Chapter
Before her senior year, Latson moved to South Florida to help care for a family member. She attended American Heritage School, where she honed her jump shot and embraced the team’s pressure defense. Her coach, Greg Farias, noted her immediate impact, saying, “girls couldn’t dribble past half court because she was stripping them every time.”
Latson’s time in South Florida allowed her to take on a leadership role, becoming the No. 1 shooting guard nationally in the class of 2022 and the first McDonald’s All American in American Heritage girls’ basketball history.
College Success and Future Aspirations
Latson’s transition to Florida State was seamless, even as the program underwent changes. When head coach Sue Semrau retired, Latson’s relationship with Wyckoff, who succeeded Semrau, kept her committed to the program.
Before the current season, Latson set her sights on becoming ACC Player of the Year. She asked Wyckoff, “I want to be ACC Player of the Year. Will you coach me to that?”
Wyckoff emphasized the need for Latson to impact all facets of the game, not just scoring. Latson responded by leading the nation in scoring (25.4 PPG) and improving in every statistical category.
Despite her individual success, Latson’s ultimate goal remains winning a national championship. She has ruled out leaving school early for the WNBA draft, stating, “I feel like I still have room to grow, and I’m in no rush, no rush at all.”
As the Seminoles (23-7) prepare for the ACC tournament as the No. 4 seed, Latson’s leadership and talent will be crucial. Her journey from Hawaii to Florida State is a testament to her resilience and determination, and her story is far from over.
Originally Written by: Andrea Adelson
