Joshua Langford

Joshua Langford (born January 15, 1997) is an American basketball coach and former player. He is an assistant coach for the boys team at Madison Academy. He played college basketball for the Michigan State Spartans. A native of Huntsville, Alabama, he competed for Madison Academy at the high school level.

Joshua Langford
Langford in the 2016 McDonalds All-American Game
Personal information
Born (1997-01-15) January 15, 1997
Huntsville, Alabama, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High schoolMadison Academy
(Madison, Alabama)
CollegeMichigan State (2016–2021)
PositionShooting guard
Coaching career2023–present
Career history
As coach:
2023–presentMadison Academy (assistant)
Career highlights and awards

Early life and high school career

Langford is the son of Tellus Langford. When he was 12 years old attending a football camp, Josh fell ill and began experiencing headaches, a spiking fever, and hallucinations. He was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis and nearly died, spending a week in the hospital. But when he recovered, he grew three inches and returned to playing basketball. At Madison Academy, Langford was a four-time Class 3A Player of the Year, a two-time Gatorade Alabama Player of the Year and a two-time state champion. He also taught Sunday School, volunteered for the Special Olympics and wrote poetry in his free time.[1]

College career

Langford was a five-star recruit and was ranked as the 17th-best player of his class by Rivals.com. He declined offers from schools such as Michigan, Kentucky, Kansas, Arizona and Duke. He announced that he would play for Michigan State on June 22, 2015, citing the "family atmosphere" as the reason he chose the Spartans.[2]

Langford had 17 points, a career high, in a win against Nebraska in February 2017.[3] In the first round of the NCAA tournament Langford contributed 13 as the Spartans blew out the Miami Hurricanes 78–58 to advance to the second round.[4] Langford scored in double figures eight times as a freshman. He favored the mid-range shot, which is on the decline in basketball. In one game versus Notre Dame in November 2017, he had 17 points by utilizing his mid-range game.[5] In another November game, Langford had the big offensive game for the Spartans, scoring a career-high 23 points as the Spartans defeated North Carolina.[6] Josh Langford scored 23 points to lead the Spartans to an easy win over Cleveland State on December 28.[7] Langford added 22 points in the NCAA tournament win over Bucknell.[8]

Langford was limited to 13 games as a junior due to a foot injury. On December 19, it was announced that Langford would miss the entire 2019–20 season after undergoing foot surgery. He still has an extra season of eligibility.[9]

On November 25, 2020, Langford returned to the court for the Spartans for the first time since December of 2018 in Michigan State's 2020 season opener against Eastern Michigan, scoring 10 points in the 83-67 victory.[10] On April 4, 2021, Langford retired from playing basketball after a series of injuries.[11]

Career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

College
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2016–17 Michigan State 352721.0.497.416.6542.31.1.4.16.9
2017–18 Michigan State 353527.0.429.404.8493.01.5.4.111.7
2018–19 Michigan State 131328.0.443.403.8393.61.8.8.115.0
2020–21 Michigan State 272628.6.377.343.7453.62.3.6.39.7
Career 11010125.5.431.390.7893.01.5.5.110.1

Post-playing career

Langford worked at Michigan State University's Broad College of Business as a program coordinator after his playing retirement. On May 17, 2023, it was announced that Langford would be returning to his alma mater, Madison Academy, as an assistant coach for the boys team.[12]

References
  1. Boyette, Daniel (November 15, 2015). "From near death to five star: The untold story of Joshua Langford". Al.com. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
  2. Duber, Vinnie (June 22, 2015). "Five-star guard Josh Langford is Spartans' latest recruiting splash". NBC Sports. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
  3. "Michigan State takes care of Nebraska, moves into 4th-place tie in Big Ten". MLive.com. February 24, 2017. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
  4. "Michigan State vs. Miami – Game Recap – March 17, 2017 – ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 20, 2017.
  5. Austin, Kyle (December 14, 2017). "Michigan State's Joshua Langford and the lost art of the midrange jumper". MLive. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
  6. "Smothering defensive effort lifts Michigan State past North Carolina in PK80 final". MLive.com. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
  7. "Michigan State-Cleveland State: Recap, score, analysis". Land of 10. December 29, 2017. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  8. "Michigan State's Miles Bridges a megastar in NCAA tournament win". Detroit Free Press. March 16, 2018. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  9. "Michigan State's Joshua Langford out for season after foot surgery". ESPN. December 19, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  10. "No. 13 Michigan State opens with 83-67 win over E. Michigan". ESPN. Associated Press. November 25, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  11. Austin, Kyle (April 19, 2021). "Michigan State's Joshua Langford retires from basketball". MLive. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  12. Brooks, Stephen (May 17, 2023). "Michigan State grad Joshua Langford returning to former HS as assistant coach". 247 Sports. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
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