Romeo Langford’s commitment to Indiana University is more about the future of the program than it is the now.
It’s a complicated sentiment that could ultimately shape the future of Indiana Basketball for years to come.
Langford is an incredible talent. He has the potential to become an All-Big Ten player, the ability to make Indiana nationally competitive, and the skill to be the one of the best players in the nation from the moment he steps on campus.
With that all in mind, Langford’s value to the program is much greater in the years following 2019.
With his talent, it's almost a forgone conclusion that Langford is a one-and-done college basketball player. Even with that understanding, Indiana's achievements in the years 2020, 2021, and 2022 will all come as a result of Langford's commitment.
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"Indiana needs that first guy to take the step under Arch and I think Langford is the guy," said Jeff Goodman of ESPN. "Kinda like Cody Zeller...you got Cody and then it was like 'Okay, it's cool to go to Indiana."
After the hiring of Archie Miller, I wrote a column stating that Miller needed to make Indiana Basketball cool again. The column itself was satirical and outrageous, but the main idea wasn't wrong. Archie Miller needed to make top talent interested in Indiana Basketball again. With one commitment, Romeo Langford has done that for him.
Langford has opened the door to Indiana Basketball for talent not only in the state of Indiana, but across the nation. His commitment has potentially changed the face of the program forever.
It feels absurd typing that out about an 18-year-old kid, but it's true. There is a reason that every Indiana Basketball fan on earth has been holding his or her breath for the past year waiting on Langford's decision. It's not just Langford's talent level. It's Langford's status as something more than just a basketball player.
Langford's commitment has opened the door to a recruiting class that could be even better next year.
"Indiana needs that first guy to take the step under Arch and I think Langford is the guy," said Jeff Goodman of ESPN. "Kinda like Cody Zeller...you got Cody and then it was like 'Okay, it's cool to go to Indiana."
Next year, Archie Miller has the potential to bring in Trendon Watford, Trayce Jackson-Davis, and Keion Brooks. According to 247Sports the trio are considered to be the 11th, 23rd, and 28th best recruits in the nation.
Trendon Watford is the younger brother of Indiana Basketball legend Christian Watford. The Watford family currently resides in Birmingham, Alabama and for that reason it appears like his commitment will come down to Indiana and Alabama.
Trayce Jackson-Davis is a late-blooming center from Center Grove, Indiana that has skyrocketed up recruiting rankings has he has continued to develop. Jackson-Davis has seemingly been seen in Bloomington too many times to count on one hand.
Keion Brooks is an athletic small forward from Fort Wayne, Indiana and his commitment seems to be coming down to Indiana and Michigan State.
The three of them aren't the only recruits looking at Indiana, but they're clearly the most vital. The trio themselves represent a continuation of the concept of keeping to in-state talent at home with two of them being from the state and one having Indiana ties that are too strong to ignore. Langford's commitment doesn't confirm that three of them will be coming to Bloomington, but what it does is completely change Archie's approach to recruiting them.
Langford's commitment has made it cool for Jackson-Davis and Brooks to stay in state.
Langford's commitment has made it cool for Watford to come on over to Indiana all the way from Alabama.
Langford's commitment has knocked down the first domino in a chain of events that could become a cycle of continued success at Indiana for years to come. That's why he matters so much.
Sometimes it only takes one. One kid who can represent so much for so many people.
When Archie Miller first took the job at Indiana, he consistently repeated the phrase "inside out." Miller had a plan to recruit talent starting from within the state of Indiana before expanding outward to the rest of the country. Miller said he and his staff would “dedicate ourselves to the high school coaches in this state, the high school talent in this state, the grassroots programs in this state.”
“They must feel like they’re being dominated by Indiana University,” Miller said. “You’re not going to get every player. You understand that. But if we want them, we should have a great chance of getting them because of the commitment level that we’re putting forth 24 hours a day at home.”
With every syllable, Miller seemed to be pointing everything he had at Langford. He is quite simply the biggest recruit you could ever land from "inside" Indiana and now it’s up to Miller to capitalize on what that truly means.
For now, all we know is that Indiana Basketball fans are in for a wild ride. With Langford as the driving force behind it all, it's time to buckle your seat belt for what is to come moving forward.
