Indiana is a place where a basketball hoop is a necessity in almost every driveway, backyard or neighborhood park. Indiana’s love for basketball started in 1894 when a group of young men from Crawfordsville and Lafayette first tested the waters on this new game. The gym that was once the birthplace of today’s Hoosier Hysteria has since been torn down and replaced with a bank and a slab of asphalt parking lot, but that has not deadened the statewide excitement surrounding the game, up until the past handful of years. The only thing to revive what was such an electric attitude is a hero to talk about, and that is where Romeo Langford came into the picture.

The 18-year-old shooting guard from New Albany, Ind. had been impressing since his freshman year of high school, averaging 17.1 points and 6.0 rebounds in his starting season. The six foot six inch senior had caught the eyes of many college scouts who were attracted to his five-star rating and were looking to make him the next addition to their team. Quickly gaining popularity, offers from high-end schools such as Louisville, UCLA, Duke and Kansas began to pile up, and all basketball enthusiasts could talk about was clear: “Where will Romeo go?”

April 30 he announced he was deciding to stay in his home state and play for Indiana University. The world couldn’t contain the buzz of excitement oozing from Hoosier basketball fans, and while he may be an excellent player, the decision to stay in Indiana, particularly at IU, is a big deal. It marked a revival in Hoosier hearts across the state, that sparked a stronger hope in their home state. Former IU player and assistant coach to Bob Knight said it simply.

“I’ve never seen more disinterest in Indiana basketball statewide than the last couple of years,” Knight said. “[Romeo’s decision] brings it back. It’s good for everybody.”

While rookie seasons are arguably rough around the edges due to the transition from one team to another, as displayed by athletes such as Andrew Luck, there is no doubt that all eyes will be on young Langford when he steps onto the court, eager to see just how accurate the five star rating is on a larger scale.