Latson on Watch List for Shooting Guard of the Year
COLUMBIA, S.C. –South Carolina senior Ta’Niya Latson earned a spot on the Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year Preseason Top 20 Watchlist, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced today. It is her fourth season on the watch list for this award, and she has advanced to the finalist rounds each of her first three seasons.
Latson joined the Gamecocks over the summer after three high-scoring seasons at Florida State, which she capped by leading the nation in scoring average at 25.2 last season. A three-time First-Team All-ACC selection, Latson was AP All-America Second Team last season after capturing honorable mention honors each of her first two seasons. A career 44.8 percent shooter with a career scoring average of 22.5 points, she has scored in double figures in 86 of her 93 career games, including 62 20-point outings. Her three-year resume features five double-doubles, including a triple-double, and 68 games leading the Seminoles in scoring.
Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting in each of the three rounds starting on Fri., Oct. 31. In late January, the watch list of 20 players will be narrowed to 10, and then in late February to just five. In March, the finalists will be presented to Meyers Drysdale and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee, which will select the winner.
The winner of the 2026 Meyers Drysdale Award will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the other four members of the Men’s and Women’s Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Nancy Lieberman Award (Point Guard), Cheryl Miller Award (Small Forward), Katrina McClain Award (Power Forward) and Lisa Leslie Award (Center).
No. 2/2 South Carolina will play its second exhibition game on Thu., Oct. 30, facing No. 11/11 North Carolina at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster. The Gamecocks’ home opener is set for Mon., Nov. 3, when they will host Grand Canyon at Colonial Life Arena in a 7 p.m. tipoff that will be streamed on SECN+.
Continue to check GamecocksOnline.com and the team’s social media accounts (@GamecockWBB) for more information on the program.
2025-26 Ann Meyers-Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year Award Preseason Watchlist
Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt
Kara Dunn, Southern Cal
Elle Evans, Kansas
Azzi Fudd, UConn
Delaney Gibb, BYU
Ashlon Jackson, Duke
Flau’Jae Johnson, LSU
Zamareya Jones, NC State
Gianna Kneepkens, UCLA
Ta’Niya Latson, South Carolina
Destiny Leo, UNLV
Laila Phelia, Syracuse
Tajianna Roberts, Louisville
Taliah Scott, Baylor
Kaylene Smikle, Maryland
Syla Swoards, Michigan
Lulu Twindale, Cal
Rachel Ullstrom, Richmond
Payton Verhulst, Oklahoma
Ruby Whitehorn, Tennessee
