CCS/MSP430G2553: Issue with ADC Not Reading Photoresistor Changing Voltages Over UART?? The ADC Might Be Incorrectly Set Up

Part Number:MSP430G2553

Tool/software: Code Composer Studio

Hello TI forum, please excuse me if my method of submitting this question does not follow all forum rules, as this is my first post here. I have an issue with my ADC pin not reading the changing voltage from a photoresistor (MSP430G2553). 
Currently the code I have allows me to output multiple ADC values (from P1.3) over UART, where my PC can read the values using a program called CoolTerm. Right now I understand that the printed values in CoolTerm do not accurately represent
anything related to "Intensity," since much of this code came from an example program for sensing temperature from an internal sensor. But my main issue is, with a photoresistor wired in series to a resistor to Vcc and GND respectively, I cannot read
any changing voltage values when a wire in between these two components is fed to the P1.3 ADC pin of the microprocessor. Plugging the ADC pin directly to Vcc shows no change in printed value, meaning that the ADC is somehow reading Vcc at all
times, even when a voltage divider is made with the photoresistor and resistor (10k ohm). But plugging it to GND prints an intensity value of 0 instead of 102. Even touching the ADC wire while it isn't connect to anything shows changes over UART. So
everything seems to be working, however there must be one or two lines in this code that has my ADC incorrectly set up, either that or my simple photoresistor circuit is incorrect (Vcc --> 10k resistor --> wire to ADC pin --> photoresistor --> GND). 
Any ideas on where my issue is? Thank you for any and all help guys.

#include "msp430g2553.h"
#include <stdio.h>

unsigned short data;                // data read from ADC 

// global variables
volatile unsigned int latest_adc_result;
volatile unsigned int timer_count = 0;
char buffer[32];

void init_led();
void init_uart();
void init_timer();
void init_adc();
void start_conversion();

void main(void)
{
	WDTCTL 	 = WDTPW + WDTHOLD;	// stop the WDT
	BCSCTL1  = CALBC1_1MHZ;	 	// calibration for basic clock system
	DCOCTL 	 = CALDCO_1MHZ;	 	// calibration for digitally controlled oscillator

	// initiate peripherals
	init_led();
	init_uart();
	init_timer();
	init_adc();

	// enable interrupts and put the CPU to sleep
	_bis_SR_register(GIE+LPM0_bits);
}

// HELPER FUNCTIONS
void init_led() 
{
	P1DIR = 0x01 + 0x40;
}

void init_uart() 
{
	P1SEL  = BIT1 + BIT2;	// P1.1 = RXD, P1.2 = TXD
	P1SEL2 = BIT1 + BIT2;	// P1.1 = RXD, P1.2 = TXD
	UCA0CTL1 |= UCSSEL_2;	// SMCLK
	UCA0BR0 = 104;			// see baud rate divider above
	UCA0BR1 = 0;
	UCA0MCTL = UCBRS0;		// modulation UCBRSx = 1
	UCA0CTL1 &= ~UCSWRST;	// ** initialize USCI state machine **
	IE2 |= UCA0TXIE;		// Enable USCI_A0 TX interrupt
}

void init_timer() 
{
	TA0CTL |= TACLR;		// reset timer
	TA0CTL  = TASSEL_2		// SMCLK
			+ ID_0			// input divider = 1
			+ MC_2;			// continuous mode, interrupt disabled
	TA0CCTL0 = OUTMOD_2		// compare mode
			+ CCIE			// interrupt enabled
			+ CCIFG;
}

void init_adc()
{
	ADC10CTL1 = INCH_3		// photoresistor input to ADC
			+ SHS_0			// use ADC10SC bit to trigger sampling
			+ ADC10DIV_3	// clock divider = 4
			+ ADC10SSEL_3	// clock source = SMCLK
			+ CONSEQ_0;		// single channel, single conversion
	ADC10DTC1 = 1;			// one block per transfer
    //ADC10AE0 = 0x08;      // enable A4 analog input
	ADC10CTL0 = SREF_1		// reference voltages are Vss and Vcc
			+ ADC10SHT_3	// 64 ADC10 clocks for sample and hold time (slowest)
			+ REFON			// reference generator on
			+ ADC10ON		// turn on ADC10
			+ ENC;			// enable (but not yet start) conversions
}

void start_conversion() 
{
	if ((ADC10CTL1 & ADC10BUSY) == 0) {	// if not already converting
		P1OUT ^= 0x40; //green led
		ADC10CTL0 |= ADC10SC;
		ADC10SA = (unsigned) &latest_adc_result;
	}
}

// INTERRUPT HANDLERS
#pragma vector = TIMER0_A0_VECTOR
__interrupt void Timer0_A0(void) 
{
	timer_count++;
	if (timer_count > 1) { //default is 16 for 1 second refresh raet
		timer_count = 0;
		start_conversion();
		IE2 |= UCA0TXIE;
	}
}

#pragma vector = USCIAB0TX_VECTOR
__interrupt void USCI0TX_ISR(void) 
{
	P1OUT |= 0x01; //red led
	unsigned int i = 0;					// iterator pointers
	sprintf(buffer, "Intensity: %d p \n\r", (int)(latest_adc_result/10)); //output text to PC. include stdio.h

	while (buffer[i] != '\0') {
		while (!(IFG2 & UCA0TXIFG));	// USCI_A0 TX buffer ready?
		UCA0TXBUF = buffer[i++];
	}

	P1OUT &= ~0x01; //red led
	IE2 &= ~UCA0TXIFG;
}