Despite Injuries, Joshua Langford Follows his Path at MSU
3/7/2020 1:13:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Features
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State senior guard Joshua Langford has a purpose in life.
Langford, a two-time captain for the Spartans, has been beset by injuries the last two years that have not allowed him to play in a game since December of 2019.
And while Langford longs to be on the floor, be it at practice or games, he knows that what he has gone through over the last 18 months has all been part of the plan that is his life.
"East Lansing and Michigan State have meant a lot to me, just because I know God sent me here, specifically for a certain reason," Langford said. "He had a perfect plan for me coming here. It really wasn't just about basketball because there is more to life than just basketball.
"Being able to be in East Lansing, being able to be around the Michigan State environment, has really taught me a lot and has allowed me to grow tremendously in my relationship with Jesus Christ. I wouldn't trade it in for the world coming here."
Before he was hurt 12 games into his junior year in 2018-19, Langford was averaging 16.0 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists while shooting 46.0 percent from the floor and 42.4 percent from 3-point land. He was also Head Coach Tom Izzo's best defensive player and a captain.
Being on the sidelines as the team won the Big Ten regular season title and then captured the Big Ten Tournament title on the way to the Final Four wasn't easy, but it also allowed Langford to see things from a different perspective.
"When you go through things it allows you to see things differently," he explained. "It's always good to have a few bruises, have a few cuts, have a few nicks, because that allows you to learn. You've seen how Cash (Cassius Winston) and how Kyle (Ahrens), they bounced back from it and I think that's great."
Langford went through rehabilitation during the second half of last season and through the summer and was expected to be back in the rotation, if not the starting lineup, when the season started. Coming off a Final Four appearance, and with experienced players returning to the team, Michigan State was ranked No. 1 in the preseason.
And just weeks before the season started, Langford had a setback and missed the start of the season. In December, Izzo announced that Langford would have surgery and miss the remainder of the season.
"Josh has just done everything we could ask of him," Izzo said. "When we think of somebody it's been unfair to, this kid means the world to me and I think to our program, for what he stood for both religiously, academically, athletically… he was the workhorse of our team."
Langford, meanwhile, has continued to be around, for every meeting, for every practice, for every game, for any team gathering of any sort. Izzo told him he could take some time, but Langford wants to be around and be able to provide anything he can to his teammates, his friends.
"Just being there," Langford said on when asked what he hopes to provide. "You don't want to speak too much because there's so many voices, a lot of coaches, so you have to pick and choose when the right time to speak is and when it isn't the right time to speak."
"My biggest role right now is just being there and being able to give them pointers when they need it. But most importantly, just being someone they can talk to, be there and laugh or joke with outside of basketball."
On Sunday, March 8, when Michigan State hosts Ohio State, Langford will take part in Senior Day ceremonies alongside his classmate Cassius Winston, whom he arrived with four years ago, and fifth-year players Kyle Ahrens and Conner George.
"It won't be mixed emotions," Langford said. "I'll be excited. It's a blessing by God to say that I'm getting ready to graduate from college. Not everybody gets to have that opportunity, let alone being able to graduate from Michigan State. I'm just thankful and grateful and I'm excited."
Langford, who will earn his bachelor's degree in advertising management with a minor in religious studies, has decisions to make after graduation. He's had a lot to overcome in the last two years, but he knows that it's all part of his process.
"It's always better when you get to the top of the mountain and you look down and you see all the things that you've been through, all the different adverse moments you had to face, all the pain, all the long nights or early mornings," Langford said. "It makes it that much better when you go through something and get something at the end."
Langford, a two-time captain for the Spartans, has been beset by injuries the last two years that have not allowed him to play in a game since December of 2019.
And while Langford longs to be on the floor, be it at practice or games, he knows that what he has gone through over the last 18 months has all been part of the plan that is his life.
"East Lansing and Michigan State have meant a lot to me, just because I know God sent me here, specifically for a certain reason," Langford said. "He had a perfect plan for me coming here. It really wasn't just about basketball because there is more to life than just basketball.
"Being able to be in East Lansing, being able to be around the Michigan State environment, has really taught me a lot and has allowed me to grow tremendously in my relationship with Jesus Christ. I wouldn't trade it in for the world coming here."
Before he was hurt 12 games into his junior year in 2018-19, Langford was averaging 16.0 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists while shooting 46.0 percent from the floor and 42.4 percent from 3-point land. He was also Head Coach Tom Izzo's best defensive player and a captain.
Being on the sidelines as the team won the Big Ten regular season title and then captured the Big Ten Tournament title on the way to the Final Four wasn't easy, but it also allowed Langford to see things from a different perspective.
"When you go through things it allows you to see things differently," he explained. "It's always good to have a few bruises, have a few cuts, have a few nicks, because that allows you to learn. You've seen how Cash (Cassius Winston) and how Kyle (Ahrens), they bounced back from it and I think that's great."
Langford went through rehabilitation during the second half of last season and through the summer and was expected to be back in the rotation, if not the starting lineup, when the season started. Coming off a Final Four appearance, and with experienced players returning to the team, Michigan State was ranked No. 1 in the preseason.
And just weeks before the season started, Langford had a setback and missed the start of the season. In December, Izzo announced that Langford would have surgery and miss the remainder of the season.
"Josh has just done everything we could ask of him," Izzo said. "When we think of somebody it's been unfair to, this kid means the world to me and I think to our program, for what he stood for both religiously, academically, athletically… he was the workhorse of our team."
Langford, meanwhile, has continued to be around, for every meeting, for every practice, for every game, for any team gathering of any sort. Izzo told him he could take some time, but Langford wants to be around and be able to provide anything he can to his teammates, his friends.
"Just being there," Langford said on when asked what he hopes to provide. "You don't want to speak too much because there's so many voices, a lot of coaches, so you have to pick and choose when the right time to speak is and when it isn't the right time to speak."
"My biggest role right now is just being there and being able to give them pointers when they need it. But most importantly, just being someone they can talk to, be there and laugh or joke with outside of basketball."
On Sunday, March 8, when Michigan State hosts Ohio State, Langford will take part in Senior Day ceremonies alongside his classmate Cassius Winston, whom he arrived with four years ago, and fifth-year players Kyle Ahrens and Conner George.
"It won't be mixed emotions," Langford said. "I'll be excited. It's a blessing by God to say that I'm getting ready to graduate from college. Not everybody gets to have that opportunity, let alone being able to graduate from Michigan State. I'm just thankful and grateful and I'm excited."
Langford, who will earn his bachelor's degree in advertising management with a minor in religious studies, has decisions to make after graduation. He's had a lot to overcome in the last two years, but he knows that it's all part of his process.
"It's always better when you get to the top of the mountain and you look down and you see all the things that you've been through, all the different adverse moments you had to face, all the pain, all the long nights or early mornings," Langford said. "It makes it that much better when you go through something and get something at the end."
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