American Heritage’s Ta’Niya Latson is Broward girls’ basketball 7A-5A player of the year

Ta’Niya Latson’s confidence and talent are easy to recognize — and both were on full display this season.

Latson, the Miami Herald’s 7A-5A Broward Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year, was the engine that fueled Plantation American Heritage to its fifth consecutive state title in her lone year at the school. She averaged 27.2 points per game, eight rebounds, seven assists, 5.3 steals and two blocks per steal in her senior season.

But there was a moment, however brief early on in her burgeoning playing career, that Latson almost quit playing basketball all together.

Latson was in the seventh grade at the time and just started playing the sport. It was a hobby, at best, at that point.

“I was just playing it to play it,” Latson said. “Honestly, I didn’t really take basketball as serious, but I just didn’t like being told what to do all the time. It was just a struggle for me. ... But my mom helped me through it.

“And,” Latson continued, “I was good at it.”

Five years later, Latson is a basketball star on the rise.

She’s a McDonald’s All-American who grew up admiring and trying to emulate the likes of LeBron James, Candice Parker and Skylar Diggins-Smith. She was named the 2021-22 Gatorade Florida Girls Basketball Player of the Year. She’s heading to Florida State for her collegiate career with the WNBA in her sights.

And she stepped up in the biggest games.

Her combined stats in the Class 5A state semifinal and title game: 55 points on 18-for-28 shooting, 18 rebounds, 12 assists, eight steals and four blocks.

“She gets so much attention,” American Heritage coach Greg Farias said, “but she creates her own offense.”

Latson also did it while adjusting to a new team. American Heritage entered the season having to replace four starters from its 2021 state championship team with three seniors graduating and a fourth transferring out.

There was no denying the team had the players to make another title run. The question was how quickly the team would gel together with a smaller roster and so many new contributors.

Latson knew the bond could be formed quickly when the team welcomed her with open arms when she transferred in from Atlanta Westlake. By mid-season, Latson said, the Patriots found their groove.

“We started to gel pretty easily and pretty good,” Latson said. “We had our ups and downs throughout the season, but we stuck together and we encouraged each other to finish this.”

Latson finished this chapter on a high note. The next chapter — FSU and hopefully beyond — now awaits her.

“I felt like it was pretty late to start taking it serious,” Latson said, “but it all worked in my favor.”

This story was originally published April 6, 2022 at 11:30 AM.

Jordan McPherson

Miami Herald

305-376-2129

Jordan McPherson covers the Miami Hurricanes and Florida Panthers for the Miami Herald. He attended the University of Florida and covered the Gators athletic program for five years before joining the Herald staff in December 2017.