Hoosier State of Mind
Fansided

Indiana Basketball: Romeo Langford NBA Scouting Report

By Trevor Gersmehl

DURHAM, NC - NOVEMBER 27: Romeo Langford #0 of the Indiana Hoosiers walks to the bench against the Duke Blue Devils during their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on November 27, 2018 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NC - NOVEMBER 27: Romeo Langford #0 of the Indiana Hoosiers walks to the bench against the Duke Blue Devils during their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on November 27, 2018 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 8
Next
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – JANUARY 06: Romeo Langford #0 of the Indiana Hoosiers gets a shot off over Eli Brooks #55 of the Michigan Wolverines during the second half at Crisler Arena on January 06, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 74-63. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – JANUARY 06: Romeo Langford #0 of the Indiana Hoosiers gets a shot off over Eli Brooks #55 of the Michigan Wolverines during the second half at Crisler Arena on January 06, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 74-63. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Natural Scoring Ability

Romeo Langford possesses natural scoring instincts that could potentially blossom after some time in the NBA.

A 3,000 point scorer in high school, Langford has a knack for creating his own shot and is especially dangerous when shooting from midrange and attacking the rim. He finished the season with marks of 42 percent from midrange and an astronomical 66 percent from the paint.

The midrange shot is nearly dead in the NBA, but many of the league’s elite scorers still have the ability to consistently knock down a 15-20 footer if they need to. Langford may not be able to rely on the midrange extensively, but it will still help him to have it in his bag should he need it.

Langford’s skill at the rim will be the driving factor for his success as a young scorer in the NBA.

He usually relies on finesse finishes and has incredibly soft touch on his layups with both hands, whether it be off of one foot, a hopstep, or a floater. He hits layups from seemingly impossible angles, another mark of a natural scorer.

While he may not have a consistent outside shot yet, Langford is adept at many skills that can be tough to teach, such as the stepback, off-dribble pull up, and aforementioned finishing repertoire.

The three point shot also happens to be perhaps the easiest thing to teach at the NBA level. There are countless examples of players who became good shooters after coming into the league lacking an outside shot.

Though Langford only shot if at 27 percent from deep this year, he did have 10 games with two or more threes, showing the potential of a reliable shooter from distance.

Langford also played nearly all season with a hurt thumb on his shooting hand and tallied a 72 percent mark from the free throw line.

NBA scouts often look at free throw shooting percentage in college as a predictor for how a prospect will shoot from three in the NBA (this is why many scouts were wary of Markelle Fultz’ 65 percent from the line two years ago). 72 percent, especially with a hurt hand, is a fairly decent percentage. This all signifies that there is almost inevitable three point improvement in store for Langford.

If he starts hitting consistently from three, then his offensive game will open up, making him a tough assignment for any defense.

Home/Indiana Basketball