Once upon a time, Ta'Niya Latson and Raven Johnson were the most feared backcourt in high school basketball. The duo dominated the Georgia hardwood for Westlake with three straight state titles and a GEICO National Championship in 2021. The two powerhouses now have the chance to play again together under Dawn Staley at South Carolina for one final run in the 2025-26 postseason.
Latson, who led in scoring last year with 25.2 points per game at Florida State, made her name known in the transfer portal after the Seminoles' early NCAA Tournament exit. Latson was recruited by some major programs including UConn, LSU, and Tennessee, but it was her deep connection to Johnson that led her to the Gamecocks.
Johnson kept in touch with Latson the entire time she was at Florida State and played a huge role with supporting Latson while she was in the Transfer Portal. And just ten minutes after Latson announced her commitment to South Carolina on April 8th, Johnson announced her plan to return to Gamecock women's basketball for her final year of eligibility. The chemistry between the two is undeniable. During their tenure at Westlake, the team went 82-2 during their three years together. Now, in a few weeks into workouts in Columbia, that chemistry is clicking again.
Latson and Johnson both say they know one another's spots, they still feel the rhythm they developed years ago and still have the ability to feed off of one another's energy and can push each other to rise.
With head coach Dawn Staley pulling the strings and two of the nation's most dynamic guards back in sync on the court, the Gamecocks are looking to make another serious title run this season.