EAST LANSING- MICH.- Good news was soon followed by bad news for former Madison Academy All-State basketball star Joshua Langford. The senior guard received word he will miss at least half of the upcoming season due to ankle and foot injuries, which sidelined him the second half of last season.

The 6-foot-5 senior captain for the Spartans was expected to return this season and enjoy the good news of Michigan State being ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press pre-season college rankings for the first time in school history. The Spartans topped 60 of 65 ballots in the pre-season balloting edging out second-ranked Kentucky and third ranked Kansas.

Michigan State won 32 games last season and reached the Final Four before losing to Texas Tech. Langford started in just 13 games averaging 15 points per game before injuring his foot in a game against against Northern Illinois in late December. He had surgery in February.

Longtime Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo was emotional during a recent press conference when speaking of the loss of Langford. He even wiped away tears when speaking of his senior captain.

“I hope everybody that’s a Joshua Langford fan says a prayer for his quick recovery,” said Izzo. “It’s one of those things that breaks my heart. Thank God he has strong beliefs. I love Josh Langford. He’s given me everything on the court, off the court and in the classroom.”

Langford, son of Tellus and Yolanda Langford, and whose sister, Jaden, is a current superstar in her own right on the Madison Academy girls’ basketball team, has been a spiritual leader since first arriving on campus after being one of the most sought after players in the country coming out of Madison Academy in 2016 after leading the Mustangs to three state titles in his five years of varsity action.

“I’m very comfortable where I am and God has led me on my path,” said Langford in a previous interview. “I feel he directs me and I’m happy with everything about me.”

The area of collegiate basketball can be at times a brutal experience depending on circumstances. For Langford, he knows he’s experienced both ends of the spectrum of good and bad while being on one of the top college basketball programs in the country. He will be on the sidelines with strong spirit and team support, just as he has as since a small boy when he quickly figured out in the fourth grade basketball was his sport of choice.