'Baby Flash': National analyst compares FSU women's basketball star to NBA Hall of Famer

'Baby Flash'

That's the nickname two-time WNBA All-Star and former North Carolina women's basketball standout Ivory Latta uses for Florida State women's basketball star Ta'Niya Latson.

The nickname is a reference to former Miami Heat star and NBA Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade, as Latta believes Latson resembles on the basketball court.

Kelly Gramlich, who sometimes calls games with Latta and is an analyst on ACCN’s "Nothing But Net" basketball show, is in complete agreement with the comparison.

"I don't know if she said it on air yet but she's talked about it," Gramlich told the Democrat. "She's been calling her 'Baby Flash,' which I think is so perfect. Because Dwayne Wade was undersized, but he was such a great finisher at the rim.

"Of course, he was called 'Flash' for a reason he could get to the rim whenever he wanted and became kind of a better shooter as his career went on and was also a great passer. So yeah, I love that comparison [for Latson]."

The Seminoles (18-8, 9-5 ACC) travel to Coral Gables to take on rival Miami (16-8, 6-7) at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Watsco Center.

Latson scored 23 points, six rebounds and four assists in a 71-63 victory over Wake Forest on Thursday.

"She's just so consistently good. She's not flashy," Jenn Hildreth, an ACCN/ESPN play-play commentator told the Democrat on why Latson is one of her favorite ACC players.

"She's not one of that look-at-me [players]. ... But everybody does watch her because she's going to be at the top of everybody's scouting report. She still incredibly finds a way to be so effective every game so I just so appreciate that about her."

Encouragement from former WNBA star Jasmine Thomas

Jasmine Thomas, a former 13-year WNBA player, watched live as Latson scored 34 points, along with eight assists, seven rebounds, four steals and two blocks in a 98-94 double-overtime loss to No. 12 Notre Dame.

Thomas took time to find Latson to give her advice following the game.

Latson made an aggressive play to steal a pass on an inbounds pass with the score tied at 94. She made heavy contact and got called for the foul, allowing Sonia Cintron to knock down the game-winning free throws.

"I told her, 'It was definitely a good idea to go for the steal, but it got just a little too aggressive,'" Thomas told the Democrat. "I just wanted to tell her not to get too discouraged. These are all learning experiences for her and every experience she gets just going to keep making her better."

Thomas is in complete agreement with the comparison to Wade.

"I like that comparison a lot," Thomas said. "I really do. Especially if you just look at the way she moves. It's kind of how she's gliding. She's going extremely fast and super explosive, but it looks effortless."

Is Ta'Niya Latson underrated nationally?

Gramlich, who called a recent Georgia Tech-FSU game, said watching Latson play in person was a unique experience.

"Courtside you can see how quick she is and how easily she gets to the rim," Gramlich said. "I mean, it's kind of mind-blowing how easily she can get to the rim and then how she finishes at her size. She's only [5-foot-8], but she finishes around the rim even with contact. She is also a great passer when she gets in the lane as well."

She has averaged 20.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game this season. She crossed 1,000 career points for her career on Jan. 14 in a victory over then-No. 11 Virginia Tech.

"It kind of frustrates me that she is [underrated] because she's truly one of the best players in the country," Gramlich said of Latson not getting the national love she deserves.

"I think what it will take for her to get a little more national recognition is probably for Florida State to make some sort of run in the NCAA tournament this year, which I think it is definitely capable of doing."

Latson averaged 21.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game last season as a freshman. Her scoring led the ACC and helped her garner ACC Newcomer of the Year honors.

While her scoring has gone down with teams honing in on her ability to score, analysts are impressed about how she has adapted and become more of a playmaker in year two.

"I think she's a great player," Thomas said. "I think as a freshman, she had such a standout season that I think that's when everyone started to notice her like he said, maybe not as much nationally as in the conference, but with a unique opportunity like this year and how strong the ACC is.

"I feel like the growth that she's made from her freshman year of just truly being a scorer. To now being a leader and a significant player on that team to make plays and make an impact on both sides of the ball for her team just as a whole."

Nation robbed of Ta'Niya Latson vs. Caitlin Clark matchup

Iowa star Caitlyn Clark is arguably the best player in college basketball right now. On Thursday, Clark passed former Washington All-American Kelsey Plum's record of 3,527 career points in the first quarter of a home game against the Michigan Wolverines.

Clark is a superstar name as a senior. But the nation was almost treated to a Latson-Clark matchup in the NCAA Tournament last season. However, a knee injury kept Latson from playing in the ACC Tournament and the NCAA first-round loss to Georgia in Iowa City, Iowa.

The Seminoles would have played Iowa in Round 2 had they advanced.

"That was the problem, in the NCAA Tournament [Latson] was hurt and in the ACC Tournament she was hurt," Gramlich said. "So we just haven't seen her play in the postseason yet and I think that will help elevate her profile."

Latson's unselfish attitude and team-first mentality are a perfect fit on a Brooke Wyckoff-coached team.

She has helped the Seminoles become a powerhouse in the ACC, with the potential to be a major threat in the ACC tournament and potentially make a run in the NCAA Tournament.

But Hildreth said she wonders if Latson had a little more showmanship on the court if she could draw the same attention as a star player like Clark.

"[Clark] does it with a swagger and that draws the national attention. That is part of what draws the national attention that gets people in who are not necessarily just women's basketball fans, or in our case, not just ACC women's basketball fans," Hildreth said.

"That's one thing if you're asking me that I'd like to kind of see Ta'Niya add to her game. She has to come out of her shell a little bit more and show a little bit more of herself in her play."

Where Ta'Niya Latson can improve

In the recent loss to the Irish, Latson shot 14-of-25 from the field, including 4-of-5 from 3-point range.

It was just her second game with multiple makes from beyond the arc and on the season, she is shooting just 26% from three.

She shot 36% from 3-point range last season, so an improvement in that aspect of the game would elevate her game to the next level.

"I absolutely think getting a little more space around her is a good thing," Hildreth said. "Being able to knock down that outside shot and not have to get in the paint and battle for so many of her points is definitely going to be something to help her [stay healthy] down the road."

Best player in FSU history?

The Seminoles have sent 16 players to the WNBA, including Natasha Howard and Wyckoff, among others.

Thomas believes Latson is the next in line for FSU.

"Her game translates to the pros extremely well," Thomas said. "I'm going to continue to watch and support throughout her season for when she does get that opportunity."

Gramlich also believes Latson could play at the next level.

But she believes Latson has a chance to accomplish something at FSU first.

"For Florida State, she is a generational player and a program changer," Gramlich said. "I think she has a very good chance to be the best player to ever play at Florida State and Florida State has had some great players., which I have played against a lot of them."

How to watch FSU women's basketball at Miami

Who: Florida State (18-8, 9-5 ACC) at Miami (16-8, 6-7)

When/Where: 4 p.m., Sunday, at Watsco Center, Coral Gables

TV/Radio: ACC Network/101.5 FM

Reach Ehsan Kassim at ekassim@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Ehsan_Kassim. You can also follow our coverage on Facebook (NoleSports), Instagram (tlhnolesports) and YouTube channel (NoleSportsTD).

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU women's basketball Ta'Niya Latson star draws comparison to Dwyane Wade