COLUMBIA — Ta’Niya Latson’s aspirations are bigger than the scoring column on a stat sheet.
Since transferring to South Carolina women’s basketball last spring, the star guard has been clear that she wants to play in the WNBA.
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That’s a key part of why she picked coach Dawn Staley’s program.
The past three seasons, Latson averaged 21 or more points at Florida State. Through 11 games for the No. 3 Gamecocks (10-1), she’s averaging 17.8.
“She’s got a reputation for scoring,” Staley said Dec. 7. “So that’s a known. What the unknown is, can you play with other great players? Can you dish it? Can you be a good playmaker for others?’ That’s going to be the biggest question mark for general managers and coaches to see if she could do those things.”
How South Carolina is helping Ta’Niya Latson
It’s rare to see prolific scoring translate to the WNBA as most guards take way fewer shots per game than they’re used to in college. The last six players who’ve led the nation in scoring in college scored an average of 19.5 fewer points in their rookie WNBA seasons, with some scoring 25.5 fewer points per game.
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South Carolina’s system is serving as an early adjustment period, giving Latson a more WNBA-like look at the quantity of shots she’d get. Latson is proving to be more efficient so far.
She’s shooting a career-high 51.9% from the field but taking 7.6 less shots per game. She’s shooting 45.2% (previous best was 36.2%) from behind the arc but taking one less 3-pointer per game.
Latson scored 24 points in back-to-back games vs Winthrop and Queens in November and didn’t miss a shot in either first half but only took 11 total shots each game from the floor. On Dec. 7 she took 18 attempts from the floor, six from the 3-point line and scored 32 points vs North Carolina Central.
Last season, in seven of her eight 30-point games, she took over 20 shots.
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“Scorers are hard,” Staley said. “They have a different mindset. When they’re not scoring, it really takes them back. And for Ta’Niya, she’s trying to figure it out, what’s the happy medium. She really understands that at the next level, they’re gonna to take some things away.”
Ta’Niya Latson’s passing improving her offense
This new system features post players who need the ball inside. Joyce Edwards had 29 points against Penn State on Dec. 14 and is averaging 20.3, with 6-foot-6 center Madina Okot averaging 14.8.
Latson’s efficiency and offensive awareness don’t just benefit her WNBA dreams but directly enhance South Carolina’s offense. She’s had at least five assists in three of the last six games. Though she’s in a more shooting guard spot than point like she did at FSU, she’s still averaging 3.7 assists per game, second to 4.6 last year.
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Her most recent game was a textbook display of what her dynamic role at South Carolina can be, scoring 18 points to go with six rebounds, eight assists and four steals.
On one play in the third quarter, she jumped in the passing lane, sprinted down the court with the ball and hit Edwards on with a behind-the-back pass, displaying both individual flair and in-game recognition to feed Edwards’ hot hand.
“So how do you play in that space when they’re taking things away, when you have to play with other great players?” Staley said. “I just think she’s better as a pro. The dishes, her defense is a lot better (since) when she first came on campus. So all those things are making her a better pro, that’s sacrificing some points here and there. But, as you can see, she still has it. That’s not going anywhere.”
The Gamecocks have three non-conference games left, beginning at USF on Dec. 18 (7 p.m., ESPN).
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Dawn Staley wants Ta’Niya Latson scoring less to get ready for WNBA
