5 Things on Makai Ashton-Langford’s Commitment

Five things on the huge news out of Providence that Makai Ashton-Langford has committed to PC.

1. I’ve been watching Ashton-Langford develop for three years now and spent a considerable amount of time writing about him, but for those readers who focused more on the on-court product than recruiting, here’s a quick breakdown of his game.

What jumps out immediately is his pure speed with the ball in his hands. Ashton-Langford is a blur with the ball, but his game is as much about savvy as it is speed. The more you watch him, the more you expect him to finish what look to be impossible attempts at the rim. When Rajon Rondo was in his prime he used to contort his body and finish inside with tricky spin off of the glass, and Ashton-Langford has a lot of that to his game. He can get by virtually any defender off of the bounce, and makes a high percentage of difficult shots in the paint.

What he’ll bring to Providence from day 1 is the ability to get into the paint and deliver for his teammates. While the Friars made the NCAA Tournament last season, they were very much limited in terms of players who could create for others. Kyron Cartwright was a tremendous assist man, but outside of him PC didn’t have another player on its roster averaging even 1.5 assists a night.

Ashton-Langford doesn’t just get into the paint off of his athleticism. He sets defenders up well by changing speeds. Once in the paint he draw defenders and makes sound decisions with the ball.

2. Ranked 36th nationally in ESPN’s 2017 rankings, Ashton-Langford becomes the most highly rated player to commit to Providence since 2012. He’s the seventh ESPN top 100 player to pledge to PC since Cooley’s first year here — a list that doesn’t include Ben Bentil and 2017 power forward commit Nate Watson — two players who both cracked several other top 100 lists.

2012: Ricky Ledo (21), Kris Dunn (23)

2013: Brandon Austin (56)

2014: Paschal Chukwu (61), Jalen Lindsey (84)

2016: Alpha Diallo (95)

2017: Makai Ashton-Langford (36)

3. On the whole, players ranked in ESPN’s 35-40 range have gone on to have a major impact at the college level. Looking for some notables ranked in this range in recent years? Here’s a look at some of the best and where they committed.

2011: Quinn Cook (Duke), Mo Harkless (St. John’s), Marshall Plumlee (Duke)

2012: Perry Ellis (Kansas), Ricardo Gathers (Baylor), Jerami Grant (Cuse), Adam Woodbury (Iowa), Willie Cauley-Stein (Kentucky)

2013: Matt Jones (Duke), Jordan Mickey (LSU), Deonte Burton (Marquette), Semi Ojeleye (Duke)

2014: Thomas Welsch (UCLA), Quentin Snider (Louisville)

2015: Tyler Dorsey (Ducks), Chimezie Metu (USC)

2016: Tyus Battle (Syracuse), Shamorie Ponds (SJU), Zach Collins (Zags)

4. Don’t look now, but Ed Cooley and his staff are on a roll on the recruiting trail.

For the class of 2017, they spotted seven footer Dajour Dickens early and got a pledge from him in February of his junior year, and followed that up by landing their top two recruiting targets in Watson and Ashton-Langford to complete a stellar three man class.

Ashton-Langford originally committed to Connecticut over Providence and Louisville last September, but asked for his released earlier this month and Cooley wasted no time in pouncing.

Coming off of a 2016 spring in which they landed a top 100 wing in Alpha Diallo, highly productive JUCO transfer Emmitt Holt, and a high potential big man in Kalif Young, it’s been a terrific 13 months for this coaching staff after near misses with the likes of Donovan Mitchell and Wenyen Gabriel in prior years.

5. Ashton-Langford is also the first big-time New England prep product to commit to Providence in recent years. The Friars have had a breakthrough of sorts with two local powers.

Both Diallo and Ashton-Langford are Brewster Academy products, and Cooley and his staff have spent considerable time tracking the Mass Rivals AAU program.

Brewster went 33-0 this past season in winning both the NEPSAC AAA title and the Prep National Championship, while the Rivals have risen extremely quickly on the Adidas Circuit. Mass Rivals has two other key PC targets in the pipeline in Boston native AJ Reeves and Providence product David Duke.

Twitter: @Kevin_Farrahar

Email: kevin.farrahar@friarbasketball.com

7 Comments

1. 

   Derec Lamenxola

   April 11, 2017 at 2:52 am

   Ashton Langford iS Coming To Providnce And We.Wont Ashton Langdord Come To Providence And Cradglautions To Ashton Langford Your Are Weoclme.To R.i. And I Cant Not Wate For Next Season All Redey And Now Procidence College Weoclme.Back.To.Nether Season Cradglautions To.Ashton Langford
2. 

   James Scowcroft

   April 11, 2017 at 3:16 am

   Ed Cooley is brining in another fine recruiting class and for some odd reason I do not think he is done now that the ball is rolling. With this class coming in and the remaining class that stayed they are on coarse for a very big year. Watch out Villinova’ Butler’ Marquette and the rest we are on the watch list this year… Keep them coming ED we all have faith in you. I can not wait until October that’s all I can say.

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4. 

   Bob Perrino

   April 11, 2017 at 10:30 am

   Its a great time to be a Friar fan! Every player returning (Rodney)? Three great recruits and our outstanding coach and staff. You are right James I love the Summer but can’t wait for the Fall. In Ed we trust. GO FRIARS!!!!

   summer but cant wait tor Fall
5. 

   Dan Martineau

   April 11, 2017 at 11:05 am

   Impressive recruiting class. Now if last year’s quality team defense can stay intact and combine with this year’s new class and their probable scoring through MAL helping KC with assists, this team can get stops and score in bunches. K. Young and the two new big men can really take this team to the next level if they develop over the summer. Diallo is a tough smart glue guy kind of player. Lots of interesting pieces.
6. 

   David

   April 13, 2017 at 4:30 am

   The Friars will have tremendous depth in 2017. No one will have to play tired. Cooley will run in fresh players in waves that should overwhelm many opponents.
7. 

   Bob

   February 26, 2018 at 10:49 pm

   I’ve yet to see anything from this guy that shows ANY value to the team. It appears that he is been vastly overated as confirmed by his poor performance AND his significant lack of playing time (I guess Ed and I see or should I say DON’T see the same light). His demeaner when he’s on the court (a few minutes every other week) is disappointing as he not only appears to lack the ‘tool box’ to compete at this level but more importantly displays an aloof attitude (still can’t figure out why – maybe I should ask Ed).

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