Langford Family Tradition
MADISON- The winning continues in the Langford family as Madison Academy sophomore sensation basketball player Jaden Langford led the recent the Class 4A State Championship winning Lady Mustangs and is clearly securing the Langford name in the history of high school basketball. Her success mimics the triumphs of her older brother, Joshua, who won three state titles during his five years with the Mustangs’ boys program where he was named All-State five times before graduating in 2016.
“Just to be compared to my brother is a great honor as he’s a real good player and being compared to his talents is special,” said Jaden. “Our parents are very much responsible on how we’ve become in our lives. Joshua and I are very thankful.”
Joshua is currently playing for the Michigan State Spartans who are one of the favorites to win the NCAA National Championship. He is a sophomore starting guard/forward for the third seed squad in what is known as March Madness. Despite his enormously busy schedule this time of the year, he keeps his attention on how his sister has fared in her high school play and talks with her as often as time will allow. He said, “I’m so happy for her as she deserves everything she’s obtaining. Glad to see she’s been able to grow to be her own success and not as Joshua’s sister.”
Started Young
Joshua has started every game for the fifth ranked Spartans and is third on the team in scoring with 11.7 points per game. Jaden was named the Most Valuable Player at the State Tournament scoring 22 points and pulling in 13 rebounds to lead the Lady Mustangs to a 56-43 win over Deshler in the state title game. “Joshua called to congratulate me and told me if I keep working there will be many more state championships to come for me,” said Jaden.
The children of Tellus and Yolanda Langford, both Jaden and Joshua started their quests of basketball perfection at four years of age. Despite five years of age difference, Jaden would demand to play with Joshua and others and held her own with her competitive spirit and incessant amount of teaching by Joshua.
“I watched him play and knew how good he was, so I tried to mimic him,” said Jaden.
“I remember she would try and cheat with me to try and win as she was a competitor back then,” said Joshua, from his dorm room at Michigan State. “Today, I tell her there are three things she has control of with attitude, effort and focus. We have more than just a basketball relationship.”
Success Traits Unmatched
Alissa Hargett, head coach of the Lady Mustangs, said of her star player, “She is a young woman of high character, intelligence and talent. She displays a spirit of humility in all she does, yet she is confident in who she is on and off the court.”
Jaden said her and her brother’s success started with the guidance of their parents. She said her father taught them about hard work and dedication while their mother stressed to pray and believe and to be thankful when those prayers are answered and things come true. “Our parents played a huge role in our lives,” said Jaden.
Jaden has a cluster of great memories of Joshua and her growing up around him, but the Langford family is rich in their religious beliefs and Jaden was quick in her choice of one important memory she has of her older brother. While in the seventh grade, Joshua held his first youth sermon in church where he spoke of obedience. Joshua’s words of wisdom came loud and clear to Jaden. She said, “I felt as though God was speaking to me. Listening to Joshua I rededicated my life to Christ. I felt Joshua’s sermon was directed to me.”
Miss My Brother
While Joshua is living the dream of playing in the NCAA Tournament, Jaden still has two more seasons of high school basketball coming her way, but she’s already being recruited by an array of schools with two solid offers from UT-Martin and South Alabama with many additional schools getting into the mix as she ponders where she wants to go to college.
“I think it’s extremely special to be recruited and I’m thankful to God to give me the abilities I have as I consider it nothing but a blessing,” Jaden, who said the college of her choice will have to include a medical school. “I’d like to be a doctor, an OBGYN. I at one time wanted to be a lawyer, but when I visited an OBGYN with my aunt who was pregnant, I saw what the doctor did and I decided that’s what I wanted to do.”
Jaden is now in what is her off-season while Joshua is in the midst of the battle for college basketball supremacy and Jaden will watch every moment of each game her brother plays in the remainder of the 2018 season. “Of course I will,” said Jaden. “We’re best friends. He taught me a lot and I want to continue our family legacy at Madison Academy. There’s not a day go by I don’t miss him.”
