Blue-chip high school junior Langford visiting KU this weekend; Ellis signs with Greensboro of NBADL

Romeo Langford, the No. 3-rated high school basketball player in the recruiting Class of 2018 according to Rivals.com, arrived on Kansas’ campus Friday morning for an unofficial weekend visit.

Langford, a 6-foot-4 junior shooting guard from New Albany (Ind.) High, averaged 29.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists a game last season in helping New Albany claim Indiana’s Class 4A state championship.

KU assistant coach Jerrance Howard reportedly traveled to Indiana to check in on Langford earlier this week. In September, KU coach Bill Self and Howard watched an open gym workout of Langford, who is considering KU, Indiana, Duke, Kentucky, Purdue, Louisville, North Carolina, Ohio State, Texas, Oregon, Vanderbilt and others.

“They (KU coaches) were just saying how people say that they are big on big men, but if you look at it they are big on tall guards like myself — like Andrew Wiggins, Kelly Oubre and guys like that,” Langford told Rivals.com in September.

An unnamed ESPN.com analyst wrote on Langford’s ESPN profile page: “Langford’s ability to score from all three levels on the court is what makes him special. He simply has a knack for putting the ball in the basket. Langford can get to the rim or knock down a floater with great touch and body control. He will also bounce into a stop-and-pop mid-range pull up jumper or knock down the open three. Langford is smooth and efficient and does a great job of moving without the ball. He makes difficult shots in heavy traffic look easy. He is poised, steady and consistent with his production. He is an excellent perimeter rebounder as well. He is very talented and loaded with offensive gifts that allow him to score from most anywhere on the court.”

Langford — he plays spring and summer basketball for the Eric Gordon All-Stars — exploded for 40 points off 12-of-19 shooting (5-of-10 from three) in a game at the Adidas Summer Championships in July in Las Vegas. He recently was named to USA Today’s 20-player preseason All-America team.

Ellis to play for Greensboro Swarm

Former KU forward Perry Ellis on Thursday signed an NBA Development League contract and will play for the Greensboro (N.C.) Swarm, a team affiliated with the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets, sources told the Star.

The 6-foot-8 Ellis was not selected in the 2016 NBA Draft. He attended NBA training camp with the Hornets, but played in just one game while recovering from sports hernia surgery.

“With Perry it was more of a health situation,” KU coach Bill Self said of Ellis not making an opening night NBA roster. “Perry never had a chance. He didn’t do great at the (NBA) combine, and then he gets hurt and doesn’t get a chance to really do anything. So he’s got a lot to prove to whoever he’s playing for, but he’s more than capable of doing that when he’s comfortable.

“If we were playing pick-up today and he didn’t know the other nine guys he would not play as well as if he knew the other nine guys. A lot of people are like that. Perry is one of those guys. He’ll be better in structure,” added Self, who said he expects Ellis to be called up by the Hornets before long.

Tharpe, Greene in draft

Former KU guards Brannen Greene and Naadir Tharpe are among the 182 prospects eligible to be selected in the six-round NBA Development League draft (1 p.m., Central time, Sunday). Only players signed to an NBA D-League standard player contract are eligible to be selected. The first four rounds of the draft are mandatory, while teams may opt not to select players in the fifth and sixth rounds. A live draft board will be available at nba.com/dleague.

KU, Texas tangle in volleyball Saturday

KU’s No 6-ranked volleyball team (19-2, 8-1) will meet No. 2-rated Texas (17-2, 9-0) in a Big 12 volleyball showdown at 6:30 p.m. Saturday in sold-out Horejsi Center. Texas defeated KU, 3-1, on Sept. 24 in Austin, Texas. The Longhorns, who are 40-4 versus KU all-time, have won 25 straight in the series. Overall, KU has won 13 straight in Horejsi Center, the last loss to Texas, 3-2, a year ago.

Several of KU’s basketball players, who open the exhibition season against Washburn at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Allen Fieldhouse, are likely to attend this huge match.

KU junior Svi Mykhailiuk, who usually sits by junior Devonté Graham at the volleyball matches, was asked at media day if KU’s volleyball team was better than last year’s squad, which reached the Final Four.

“I really don’t know. They lost a couple players, but I think they are really good, this year, too,” Mykhailiuk said.

This story was originally published October 28, 2016 at 7:28 PM with the headline "Blue-chip high school junior Langford visiting KU this weekend; Ellis signs with Greensboro of NBADL."