In the wake of [the latest news in the FBI investigation into corruption in college basketball, this time involving a mention of players and parents associated with Kansas,][1] there was some movement in the 247 Sports Crystal Ball prediction world regarding unsigned, five-star prospect Romeo Langford.
Langford, the top remaining available prospect in the 2018 recruiting class — ranked No. 5 overall by 247 Sports and No. 6 by Rivals.com — is closing in on making a decision between finalists Kansas, Indiana and Vanderbilt.
The New Albany, Ind., native, who has become a Hoosier State hero throughout his stellar high school career, [revealed earlier this week that he would announce his decision during a ceremony at his high school on April 30.][2]
While the news of KU’s potential involvement in the federal investigation led some to switch their prediction from Kansas to Indiana this week, the recruit himself went on record as saying that the investigation was not weighing on his mind.
“They’re still in my top three,” [Langford said of Kansas in a Thursday interview with USA Today’s Hayes Gardner.][3] “It doesn’t hurt them. It doesn’t make them any better — Well, I don’t know why it would make them better — but it doesn’t hurt them at all.”
Langford told Gardner that he had not been in contact with KU coach Bill Self since news of the indictment tying KU to the investigation was released Tuesday.
Langford, who is in Portland participating at the Nike Hoop Summit, with KU signees Quentin Grimes and David McCormack, among others, also told Gardner that he had not yet made a decision but reiterated that his choice would come from his final three.
As for the approaching end to what has been a wild couple of years on the recruiting trail, Langford said he never was bothered the attention from media members, adoring fans and recruiting analysts who constantly checked in with him about his recruitment during the past several months.
“It’s been enjoyable,” Langford told Gardner. “I feel like me and my family have handled it real well, so it hasn’t been too overwhelming at all.”
[1]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2018/apr/10/employee-apparel-company-illegally-paid-ku-basketb/
[2]: http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/tale-tait/2018/apr/11/prized-2018-recruit-romeo-langford-to-an/
[3]: http://usatodayhss.com/2018/romeo-langford-fbi-investigation-doesnt-hurt-kansas-chances
