Five-star guard Josh Langford is Spartans' latest recruiting splash

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Tom Izzo and the Spartans won big again on the recruiting trail Monday, beating out a host of other top-flight programs for five-star guard Josh Langford, the No. 17 player in the Class of 2016, per Rivals.

Langford — who, yes, is related to former Michigan State running back Jeremy Langford — is a 6-foot-6, 200-pound shooting guard from Alabama.

While he might not completely make up for the decommitment of Caleb Swanigan — the five-star big man from Indiana who committed to Michigan State earlier this spring, only to then decommit and head to Purdue instead — Langford is quite the get. Izzo beat out the likes of Sean Miller (Arizona), Mike Krzyzewski (Duke), Bill Self (Kansas), John Calipari (Kentucky) and John Beilein (Michigan) to sign Langford up for Michigan State.

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"I felt like the family atmosphere was unbelievable," Langford told 247 Sports. "Everyone comes back. It's just one big family, and it's like once you are a Spartan, you're a Spartan for life. Also it's a plus that coach Izzo is a future Hall of Fame coach. And the system fits me. The whole program fits me. I think I'll develop on and off the court."

"They say they want to use me in a Denzel Valentine/Gary Harris type of way," Langford said. "I'll be able to utilize my playmaking skills. I can truly score from all three levels now, and I'll be able to do that there. And defensively I think I have a lot of upside. I just need to be pushed, and coach Izzo will do that."

Izzo now has a two-man recruiting class for 2016: Langford and Ohio power forward Nick Ward.

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