South Florida Sun-Sentinel Palm Beach (Sunday)
American Heritage star Latson relishes All-American honor
PLANTATION — Ta’Niya Latson has a lot of new challenges that she is looking forward to in her blossoming basketball career, but none of them stopped the American Heritage senior from enjoying the honor of receiving one of the game’s top individual accolades on Thursday.
Latson was given her No. 22 McDonald’s All-American jersey on Thursday afternoon in a ceremony held inside the same gym in which she delighted spectators with her array of skills during the 2021-22 season. The soft-spoken shooting guard was surrounded by friends, family, coaches and teammates, and she smirked and smiled as she relished the moment that formally made her the first Patriots girls basketball player to receive the distinction.
“It means a lot. I am just blessed to be in this position,” Latson said. “I worked really hard to get here and it has always been a dream so I am just thankful.”
Averaging an impressive 27 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, and six steals per game in her lone season at American Heritage, Latson was instrumental in leading the Eagles to their fifth consecutive state title. They won the title game last month, routing Orlando’s Bishop Moore by a 69-31 score.
Coach Greg Farias on Wednesday gushed over Latson’s contributions, especially those on the defensive side of the ball and in the locker room.
“It is really a proud moment because a lot of the top kids are not as humble and are not a great teammate like she is,” Farias said. “She is an amazing young lady on and off the court. For her to have an accolade like this and come to South Florida and represent our school and see what she did, it is an honor. It really is.”
Latson will get a chance to show all of her qualities later this month in the girls basketball All-American game, which will be held in Chicago and broadcast live on ESPN2 on March 29. She will also take part in the skills challenge that is part of that event before beginning to fully focus on her next stop at Florida State University.
“These next couple years I feel like we are going to make a really good run,” said Latson of FSU. “I love the coaches, I love the team, I love the school, everything, so I just cannot wait and I am excited.”
Latson may have lived a dream while making American Heritage history on Thursday, but there will soon be more opportunities for her to add to her budding resume. All signs point to her doing just that, too.
“I am really excited to see what she is going to do next year at FSU,” said Farias. “You always have got to have work ethic and play hard all the time in practice and games, and she has all those [qualities] to make it to the next level.
“Her dedication and her love for the game and her wanting to be successful is second to none.”