Latimer Fitting Into Leading Role On Men’s Basketball Team

Point guard John Latimer is accustomed to being a leading man.

At Apopka High School, he was a four-year starter, amassing 1,275 career points. That output was good for fourth best in school history. 

Now Latimer is replicating his floor general role at Miami Dade College.

The 6-foot-2 sophomore leads the Sharks in scoring (17.3 points per game), assists (4.2) and steals (2.1). He is second on the squad with 4.4 rebounds per contest. 

Latimer’s offense has been consistent; he has scored in double digits in 15 of  the 16 games he has played in, including breakout performances on Dec. 6 against Palm Beach State College (29 points) and on Dec. 8 versus Elgin Community College (31 points).

The versatile guard also scored 17 points, grabbed four rebounds and dished out three assists in a 78-68 loss to the nation’s second-ranked team—Daytona State College—on Jan. 13.  

“He’s a great leader and has been a blessing,” said Sharks Head Coach Jorge Fernandez. “He sets his example in his play as opposed to talking about it.”

Latimer’s play has been an integral part in the Shark’s 11-8 start. They have won five of their last eight games.

Basketball has been a big part of Latimer’s life since he started playing at the YMCA when he was two years old. He continued his passion for the sport at Piedmont Lakes Middle School in Orlando and Apopka High School. 

Latimer started his freshman season on the junior varsity squad, but he was quickly promoted to varsity. His play led the team to the playoffs, Apopka’s first appearance in 30 years. 

As a junior, he earned first-team all-metro honors. During his senior season, he averaged 20.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.9 steals while earning second-team all-state honors and first-team all-metro accolades. 

The COVID-19 pandemic slowed his recruitment but he eventually received offers from schools such as Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey, College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Presbyterian College in South Carolina and Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida.

Latimer picked Rollins, averaging 9.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game last season.

“Rollins was a good experience and actually showed me the world of college basketball,” Latimer said. “When it comes to college sports, it’s not as easy as you think it’s going to be.”

His performance at the Division II school caught Fernandez’s attention and he offered him a scholarship.

“He pushes me to go hard at practice every day,” said Sharks center Chad Anglin. “He makes sure I keep a positive mindset after I’ve made a mistake.”

Latimer, who is studying business administration and marketing, has ambitious plans for the future. He aspires to own a cybersecurity company and serve in the United States Army because his grandfather served in the Air Force.

“My future goal would be to put myself in a position to be a leader amongst all people,” Latimer said. “I want to use my platform of playing basketball to help people that are in situations where they are in need.”

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