Auburn Basketball: Tony Barbee Lands Top Recruit, Begins New Era

Any thoughts that would hinder landing top recruits to Auburn should have been erased earlier today. 

Head coach Tony Barbee landed the top player in the state of Alabama, forward Josh Langford from Huntsville, in a signing ceremony at Lee High School. 

Barbee has had contact with Langford since the ninth grade.  From reports, it sounded like Langford was going to sign no matter where Barbee was located. 

It just pays off that Barbee is now on the Plains. 

This is the first time since 1996 that Auburn has signed the top player in the state.  The last player to sign while number one in the state?

If you guessed Doc Robinson, you know your Auburn basketball. 

There are two questions one must ask about this signing. 

The first question: Why didn't this happen within the last six years?

It is an easy enough answer, but still has to be asked.  Granted, Auburn has a shiny new arena to show off to recruits, but that begs to ask why landing top recruits could not happen within the last six years.

The second question: Should this be viewed as a start of what is to come?

An optimist will say yes. 

Unlike other sports, basketball really only needs a couple of big time playmakers to make defenses have fits. 

A decent basketball team should have a forward/center down low to get the ball to as well as a guard that can shoot the ball when necessary. 

The addition of Langford with returning starter Frankie Sullivan should serve well as a good base to build the Auburn basketball program.

Auburn already has in its 2010 signing class Allen Payne, Shawn Kemp, Jr., Heath Houston, and Adrian Forbes.

For a fan base that was desperately needing a jump start in its basketball program, Barbee has come through in a big way.