LANSING, MICH.- Despite his experience at knowing what it’s like to be No. 1 in his sport from his five glorious years at Madison Academy High where he led the Mustangs to three AHSAA State Championships, Joshua Langford is currently riding the wave of success again, only this time as one of the star players for the Michigan State University Spartans who rose to the No. 1 ranked team in the country before losing two games and now ranked No. 6.

“Being No. 1 felt great and it was a learning experience for me and all my teammates as we quickly saw how we reached the top spot other teams raised their quality of play to try and get us off that ranking,” said Langford from his dorm room in Lansing, Mich., which he shares with three of his teammates. “I truly believe when we lost, we got better as a team. We all learned.”

As a sophomore with the Spartans, the 6-foot-5, 215-pound guard/forward is currently third on the team in scoring (13-points) for the squad which has only suffered losses at the hands of Duke, Ohio State and Michigan and at 18-3 is headed into the more serious part of its 2018 schedule. Langford has started all 21 games this season and had 27 of 35 starts as a freshman while averaging 6.9 points per outing a year ago.

God Led Path

Attending the Big Ten Conference school in Lansing, the state capitol of Michigan, Langford spends much of his focus on basketball and his studies. Though he has yet declared his major, he looks to work his way into the business college of the university, but understands the fierce competition to make that elite group of studies is much like the competition he faces on the basketball court. He said he juggles the focus of both pretty well in his opinion.

But, there is more.

Langford spends much of his free time in a group called the Rivers of Life and its bible study at three times a week. A devoted Christian, the son of Tellus and Yolanda Langford said he feels good about his decision to come to Michigan State when so many other schools were begging for his basketball talents.

“I’m very comfortable where I am and God has led me on my path and this choice,” said Langford while taking a break in between his studies. “I feel he directs me and I’m happy with everything about me right now.”

He somehow finds time to have a girlfriend, Amber, who he met on campus and he attempts to conduct as much volunteer work as time will allow. Some of that effort has led him to read to children at local schools. Langford has always been an outgoing personality, but understands his place within his spiritual beliefs that he needs to focus in all areas of his life.

Each Game Like A Fight

“I’ve grown a lot as a player as I make progress every day,” said Langford. “I’m doing a good job of being the best I can be.”

Spending hours after hours with his roommates Miles Bridges, Jaren Jackson and Lourawls Nairn, Jr., Langford said he’s healthy, physically, mentality and spiritually. The level of focus is strides ahead of what he experienced at Madison Academy. “As a player I approach the game of basketball completely different than when I did in high school. There’s a lot of preparation into knowing what our opponents do during a game,” said Langford.

His younger sister, Jaden, is becoming a star in her own right at Madison Academy as the Lady Mustangs are working towards defending the state championship they won a year ago. If there is anything within their DNA that puts them together, Langford said of his sister, “She has that competitive spirit in everything she does. I’m happy for her success. She deserves it.”

The 2018 season is quickly coming to a close for Langford and the big mean green team. He feels with God as a guidance and his own work habits and competitive spirit not lacking in form, the season could be one of those special moments in his life.

You have to find ways to stay mentally and physically strong,” said Langford. “Each game is like a fight. I feel comfortable about everything I’m doing.”