6/20/2019 basketball Edit

Romeo Langford selected 14th overall by Boston Celtics

Jon Sauber • TheHoosier

Basketball Recruiting Reporter

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Romeo Langford became the 26th Indiana men's basketball player to get drafted in the first round when he was selected 14th overall Thursday night by the Boston Celtics in the 2019 NBA Draft.

The former Hoosier said he's excited to begin his NBA career.

“Really, I just can’t wait to get to work, meet the guys and hit the ground running at Summer League and at training camp," Langford told Celtics.com. "I feel like with the group they already have along with myself, we can do a lot of big things.”

The former five-star recruit had surgery on his thumb following the season, but said his recovery is coming along well.

"It’s coming along well," he said. "I’m just now getting back into the swing of things with being able to dribble and shoot recently. I had torn a ligament in my thumb in November and I had surgery after the season. So I’m just getting back to dribbling and shooting.”

Langford averaged 16.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game in his lone season with the Hoosiers. He's the first Hoosier to go in the lottery since Noah Vonleh went no. 9 overall to the Charlotte Bobcats in 2014, and the first Hoosier to go in the first round since O.G. Anunoby went to the Toronto Raptors at no. 23 in 2017.

The former five-star recruit is the first Hoosier under Indiana head coach Archie Miller to be drafted. Miller previously praised the newest Celtic when he spoke to the media at Huber's Orchard and Winery in late May.

"His productivity as a true freshman, when stacked up against the college basketball world, looks really, really, really, good," Miller said.

Miller also said Langford has more upside than what he's shown.

"Romeo's got untapped potential," he said. "Physically, he's as gifted as anyone you're going to see. From a basketball perspective, he's young in terms of learning the game. I think he's so mindful and so smart in terms of processing things, that it doesn't take him long to pick up on what he needs to do."

After Langford was selected, Miller released the following statement:

“This is an exciting day for Romeo, his family, and our program. He is a special young man who is ready to do what it takes to further his basketball career on the professional level with a great organization like the Celtics. He is a great teammate who now has the opportunity to work every day on realizing his personal and professional goals on the biggest stage. When you look at his year with us, you appreciate what he accomplished as a freshman in a league that is consistently known as one where veteran players dominate night in and night out. He will be a great ambassador for IU and the State of Indiana.”