Rest easy Cameron Crazies, it looks like the man with the picture-perfect jump shot is back.
When basketball season officially begins with supervised practice on Tuesday, sophomore Trajan Langdon will be back on the floor with the rest of the Blue Devils. Langdon, who redshirted last season due to a severe left knee injury, had surgery last spring and has spent the summer and preseason rehabilitating. Despite not being 100 percent recovered, Langdon is ready to return to the floor-both physically and emotionally.
"My progress has been as good, if not better than I had hoped," Langdon said. "[Two months ago] I still had some concerns about when I was going to be back-if I was going to be back. Now, I've gotten to the point where I can play again and that is a positive for me-just because it means I can be out on the floor and compete with [my teammates]."
Langdon's recovery has mirrored the way he approaches the game-very patient and methodical.
"It's been tough," Langdon said. "There were some times in the summer and early in the school year when I knew that I couldn't play full and the guys were playing full. They'd be having a great game, and I was standing on the side shooting around. People would ask me why I couldn't play. They didn't realize that they were seeing me move, that I still needed the time to heal so I could perform and play in the future.
"There were some times when I wanted to say, 'I got next [game].' But I knew I had to refrain and hold back. Better things come to those who wait-that is what I always try to think."
That patience has paid off as Langdon has seen significant improvement, especially in recent weeks.
"The last week and a half, I have felt the best I've felt," Langdon said. "Prior to that, I saw significant improvement in my knee and how it was healing, and I was able to do a lot more stuff."
Everything is not perfect with Langdon, however, as he still feels pain when plays and is forced to 'play around the pain,' limiting some of his more explosive moves. He is optimistic, that with the increase in strength and confidence the season will bring, that he will be able to return to past form. As always, he remains cautious.
"Given the surgery and the type of injury... there is no guarantee that I will ever be 100 percent again," Langdon said. "If it comes around, that's great. If not, I will just have to think of myself now as 100 percent and not make any excuses."
After 14 months of not being on the floor with his teammates, he is prepared to be as patient with rejoining the team as he has been recovering from the injury itself.
"It is like I'm going to have to learn the system again because watching it from the side and being on the floor having to direct people and knowing how to react is a lot different," Langdon said. "It will be an adjustment, and it will take some time, but I'll be fine."
Langdon spent a great deal of time in the weight room, while he was injured, building his upper body strength. Once he was able to run, he spent the summer and preseason getting himself back into playing shape, trimming down and becoming acclimated to his increased upper body strength.
Langdon will be a slightly different player when he steps on the floor, but he is still prepared to do everything he can to help the Blue Devils.
"This year, I'm just looking at trying to help the team win," Langdon said. "And whatever that entails-whatever the coaches need me to do-I'll do."
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Sign up for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.