One commitment by day; another by night.
Kansas University’s men’s basketball team, which received an oral commitment from Portland, Ore., point guard Aaron Miles Monday morning, landed a commitment from Crowley, Texas, shooting guard Keith Langford on Monday night.
The 6-foot-4 Langford he averaged 19 points and nine rebounds a game last season at North Crowley High picked KU over Cincinnati and Oklahoma. He visited KU for last Saturday’s exhibition game against Emporia State.
“The deciding factor,” Langford said late Monday night, “is I wanted to stay close to home so my mom and the rest of my family could see me play and be part of my college career.
“It’s an opportunity I can’t pass up, to be part of KU’s tradition. I felt all along if I got along with the players and everything, I’d go to Kansas. I had a great visit and liked everybody. I feel it’s the best place for me.”
Langford calls Monday’s oral commitment a “dream come true.”
He committed to Mississippi last May, right before the start of summer camp season. After a productive summer season, Langford de-committed to Ole Miss a month ago and KU, Oklahoma and Cincinnati stepped forward.
“Coach Williams called me after I decommitted,” Langford said. “I was honored to hear from him. Kansas is a school I grew up watching. I am very excited. I mean, this is Kansas.
“Not only am I going there, but coach Williams thinks I can play and maybe even be put in place for a starting position.”
Langford loved last weekend’s visit so much, he sought out the Jayhawk mascot and planted a kiss on the bird’s beak after the Emporia State game.
“I kissed it in front of all the fans,” he said. “I couldn’t believe the fans were screaming for me,” he added, referring to chants of “We Want Langford” late in the game.
“At first I thought they do that for all recruits, then I thought, ‘Wow this is for me.”‘
A sweet-shooting lefty with deep three-point range, Langford said his idol is Jalen Rose, formerly of Michigan and now with the Indiana Pacers. “Actually my strength is going to the bucket,” he said. “I hit from the outside too.”
Langford visited Cincinnati two weeks ago. He’s quite familiar with OU’s campus and program.
“It came down to Cincinnati was too far. My mom has not missed a game since I started playing. She is so supportive of me, she can drive to the games now.
“Ole Miss? My heart just wasn’t in it,” Langford said. “I couldn’t see myself going there. I’m sorry I committed, but I felt if my heart wasn’t in it I had to make a change.”
Langford called Williams with his decision after 9 p.m Monday. “He seemed excited,” Langford said. “I know I’m excited.”
KU has filled four of five available scholarships. The Jayhawks could wait until second semester to fill the final opening.
Nothing’s official until Roy Williams makes it so, but all indications are John Crider’s Kansas basketball career is over.
Crider, a 6-foot-4 junior shooting guard from Horton, met with KU coach Williams on Monday ostensibly to tell the KU coach whether or not he wanted to transfer.
A family friend who spoke with Crider Monday said the shooting guard indeed told KU’s coach he wanted to continue his career elsewhere.
Family members could only confirm a meeting was held Monday as they had yet to hear from Crider Monday night.
It’s believed Crider will end up at Washburn. He knows the coaches there and reportedly wants to play close to home.
Crider did not practice on Monday, but that in itself was not an indicator he’d left the team. Crider has a quad injury that might require him to miss some practice time.
If Crider does leave, he still might practice with the Jayhawks until his departure.
