Auburn transfer Josh Langford forced to remain patient

Patience will be a virtue for Josh Langford over the next several weeks.

He's got no choice.

That doesn't mean Southeast Missouri State's highly touted basketball transfer from Auburn won't be anxious.

"I'm going to be very anxious. I'm going to be ready to get out there," Langford said with a smile.

Langford will miss Southeast's first 10 games this season as he doesn't become eligible until Dec. 21 -- the day the Redhawks visit Memphis.

Until then, Langford will have to be content doing what he's done since transferring to Southeast for last year's second semester -- practice with the squad, keep building chemistry with his teammates and prepare for the start of his eligibility in Cape Girardeau.

"Josh has worked very hard since he's gotten here and being able to practice with us for almost a year before he gets out there is going to help him in the long run," Southeast coach Dickey Nutt said.

The 6-foot-7, 215-pound Langford played two seasons at Auburn before leaving the program. He will have the rest of this season, the one final year of eligibility during the 2014-15 campaign.

Langford, an extremely athletic left-hander who can play multiple positions including guard, comes to Southeast with impressive credentials although his time at Auburn wasn't all smooth.

Langford was ranked Alabama's No. 1 player as a senior at Lee High School in Huntsville, where he averaged 22 points and 13 rebounds in helping Lee win the 2009-10 Class 5A state championship. He was the MVP of the state title game and also earned MVP honors at the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic.

Langford originally committed to Louisville before signing with Auburn. He played in all 31 games as a freshman in 2010-11, with 12 starts. He averaged 4.6 points and 2.6 rebounds while shooting 36.4 percent from 3-point range.

Langford was suspended for the first six games of the 2011-12 campaign and suffered a concussion early in the Southeastern Conference season that caused him to miss the rest of the year. He played in just 14 games, including five starts, averaging 5.2 points and 2.1 rebounds with 53.6-percent field-goal shooting.

Auburn coach Tony Barbee dismissed Langford for violation of team rules last April following the season. He attended Auburn for the first semester last year but did not play basketball.

"Things just didn't work out as planned. When that happens you just have to move on," Langford said about his time at Auburn.

Nutt said he and Southeast officials gathered plenty of information regarding Langford's dismissal from the Auburn program and came to the conclusion that he is worth bringing into Southeast's program as a player and person.

Tony Madlock, a current Auburn assistant and a former assistant under Nutt at Arkansas State, was among the people Nutt talked to about Langford.

"They all said he was a good kid," Nutt said. "We did our research on it and felt very comfortable. Everybody makes mistakes and deserves a second chance. We've been very pleased since he's been here."

Langford said he also considered Alabama, Clemson and Richmond, among other programs, before deciding on Southeast. One of the things that led him to the Redhawks, he said, was the fact his mentor was familiar with Southeast assistant Jessie Evans.

"That's how the connection first started," Langford said. "Coach Evans hit him up in the summer time and then I had a relationship with coach Evans."

It also didn't hurt Southeast's efforts to land Langford that, during a visit to campus last year, he attended the Redhawks' nationally televised home game against Murray State that was witnessed by nearly 5,000 fans.

"I loved it," Langford said in January after transferring to Southeast. "I came on the visit and just liked the environment, the team and coaches. I love them, just like my brothers. It's a program I want to be a part of."

Langford plans to be a part of a winning program as expectations are high for the Redhawks.

"I think we really have a chance to win the OVC championship, get to the NCAA tournament and compete. I really believe it," he said.

Langford plans to make his mark immediately after becoming eligible on Dec. 21.

"I just can't wait," he said. "It's been almost like two school years since I played."

Nutt also can't wait to have Langford on the court.

"Josh is very, very athletic, maybe the best athlete I've ever coached," Nutt said. "I think our fans are going to love watching him play."

While Langford will have to wait a while to suit up for the Redhawks, one other player who practiced with the team last year will be able to make his Southeast debut from the outset of the season.

Freshman C.J. Reese, a 6-2, 195-pound point guard, who figures to back up senior Lucas Nutt, joined the program for the second semester last year after becoming academically eligible. He ended up redshirting, meaning he will have four years of eligibility.

"C.J. is one of our most improved players," Dickey Nutt said. "He's really going to be able to help us this year."