Romeo Langford decided to enter the NBA Draft after his freshman season at Indiana. Langford is from New Albany, Indiana and attended New Albany High School where he had a big career.
He led New Albany to the Indiana 4A State Championship as a sophomore, scoring 28 points in the title game. Langford was a historic scorer in the state of Indiana, as he finished his high school career with 3,002 points. This number was fourth all-time in the state.
As a senior, Langford averaged 35.5 points per game, and drew interest from Kansas and Vanderbilt. Langford was ranked fifth in ESPN's top-100 for 2018. He decided to stay home and attend Indiana.
College Career
Indiana finished their season 19-16 and 8-12 in the Big Ten. Langford averaged 16.5 points and 5.4 rebounds per game in his freshman season. He scored a career-high 28 points in a 73-65 win over Illinois, finishing 8-13 from the field and 11-15 from the free throw line. Just two games later, Langford matched his career-high with 28 points against Maryland. Langford burst onto the scene as the number one option for the Hoosiers this season.
It was a roller coaster season for Indiana. They started out the season 12-2. The Hoosiers picked up early wins over Marquette and Louisville. Indiana went on to lose 12 of their next 13 games. The one win was the biggest of the year. They picked up a 79-75 overtime win over Michigan State on the road. Indiana won their next four games before Ohio State ended their season in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament.
As for Romeo Langford, he was a one-and-done from the beginning. As the season progressed, this became more obvious. A high-profile high school player did not disappoint in college, and will take his talents to the NBA come June.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Langford is strong on the offensive end. He measures at 6'6, 210 pounds, so he has great size to be a shooting guard at the next level. Langford's ability to get in the lane is one of a kind. He excels at using his size and strength to get in the lane and draw fouls. He averaged 6.1 free throws per game during his freshman season.
At the June 2017 USA U19 tryouts, Langford measured with a 6'10.5 wingspan and 8'6.5 standing reach. His length makes him an exceptional rebounder. He averaged 5.4 per game while at Indiana, and 1.4 on the offensive end.
The best part of Langford's game comes in transition. Whether he has the ball leading the break or is filling a lane, he is always in the right spot. The youngster is extremely smart in the open floor. A guard who can create extra possessions, lead a break in transition, and get to the rim will be valuable for any team.
Heading into the NBA, Langford is not a finished product. He is a great talent, but has some weaknesses. His effort has been questioned at times, especially on the defensive end. Langford struggled shooting the ball from three-point range at Indiana. He shot 27.2% from deep as a freshman.
His shot selection can be questionable at times. Langford was known for putting up some ill-advised shots. The main concern is decision making. Aside from his shot selection, Langford averaged 2.1 turnovers per game last season. He is typically a shooting guard and will be at the next level. He has not shown the ability to control the game in a half court setting. Any team who drafts Langford has to be ready to develop a great talent into a polished player.
Best Fits
Langord has a lot of Rip Hamilton in his game. He is a slashing guard who can dominate in the mid-range game without venturing out to the three-point line that often.
The Celtics hold the 14th pick in the draft and could be an ideal landing spot for Langford. Whether it is Kyrie Irving or Terry Rozier, Boston has strong options at point guard. Adding Langford will give them additional depth. The Nets at 17 are also a good option. Brooklyn was a playoff team this season. D'Angelo Russell looks like the answer at point guard. Teaming up with Langford could create a strong backcourt.
Nevertheless, it is uncertain where Romeo Langford will get picked. It could be anywhere in the lottery to the end of the first round. Expect his name to be called somewhere in the middle.
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