How South Carolina WBB transfers are fitting in: ‘They want to be great’
Dawn Staley brought in two transfers this offseason. They’re already playing big roles for the South Carolina women’s basketball team.
Madina Okot and Ta’Niya Latson are both coming off season-high performances in Wednesday’s 106-56 win over Winthrop. Okot finished with 23 points and 11 rebounds, while Latson scored 24 points.
After the win, Staley seemed pleased with the transfers’ production early in the season, though she knows they’re capable of more.
“They aren’t where they used to be, and they’re not where they need to be, or where they’re going to be,” Staley said.
Okot is already averaging a double-double for South Carolina (13.2 points and 10.6 rebounds). She’s finished with a double-double in three of the Gamecocks’ first five games. Latson is averaging 17 points a game, good enough for second on the team in scoring. She’s scored 20 or more points twice this season.
Both Okot and Latson come from programs (Mississippi State and Florida State, respectively) that made the NCAA Tournament during their tenures, but didn’t have nearly the amount of success South Carolina has had in recent years.
The two transfers are working through the pressure that comes with playing for the No. 2 Gamecocks, Staley said.
“It’s a lot of pressure to play for us. It’s much different than where they come from,” Staley said. “So some of that, they have to work through. ... There’s a lot of critics that have a lot to say about how they’re fitting in, what they’re doing, what they’re not doing.”
Latson specifically is feeling a bit of extra pressure, though some of it is coming from herself. The guard led the country in scoring last year (25.2 points per game), and her decision to transfer to South Carolina was arguably the biggest acquisition of the offseason. So “of course” she’s feeling added pressure, Staley said.
The senior made sure to give herself “grace” as she continues developing her game in a new system and at a new school with new teammates.
“When you led the nation in scoring, any type of dropoff is concerning to the person that has been that,” Staley said. “But I hope Ta’Niya understands that in just the short time that she’s been with us, I think she increased her chances of being a pro because of what she’s doing on the defensive side of the ball — she’s really guarding. And then she’s very, very efficient with us. She’s shooting over 50% for the floor. That’s what teams are looking for.”
The same goes for Okot, who is working to be more comfortable with the Gamecocks. Okot believes her hard work is beginning to show up on the court. The potential dominance the 6-foot-6 Okot has in her skillset is evident at times, Staley said.
“We need dominance on her part every time she steps on the floor,” Staley said. “And I think she’s just getting more and more comfortable. And I think there’s just a little bit more structure out there to where she knows where she needs to be. ...
“I like her rebounding in the basketball. I like her being efficient. I like her taking shots and being aggressive. And she’s going to have to be that.”
And Staley is constantly reminding Latson and Okot of their “why” — the reason they decided to transfer to South Carolina. Sure, they came to compete and contend for a national title, but also to put themselves in a better position to be a professional.
“[We’re] just adding different things to what they already have, to doing the things that pros are looking for,” Staley said. “And for us, it’s not any different than how we play. This is our normal. This is how we play. And it’s worked out for the other players, the other pros that we produced.
“They’re coming along nicely. They’re very coachable. It’s incredible. They’re really mature about how they go about things. They’re listeners, they’re coachable. They want to be great.”
South Carolina WBB’s next four games
- Sunday: vs Queens, 2 p.m. (SEC Network Plus)
- Wednesday: vs Duke in Players Era Championship in Las Vegas, 4:30 p.m. (truTV)
- Thursday: vs Texas or UCLA in Players Era Championship in Las Vegas, 8 or 10:30 p.m. (truTV)
- Dec. 4: at Louisville, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
