At Millbrook High, 6-8 freshman Colt Langdon is starting to turn heads

Colt Langdon understood the holiday season’s spirit of giving and receiving well before the 6-foot-8 ninth grade International Baccalaureate student entered Millbrook High last August. In a “like father, like son” Christmas experience, Langdon gave his Dad a pair of UGG-brand slippers to match his.

In the months since, Langdon has shared his giving and receiving propensities among the Wildcats’ basketball family.

Langdon’s first high school dunk against Garner happened when Langdon gained an advantage over Matthew Eaton, the Trojans’ 5-foot-10 junior guard. Eaton is a cousin of Millbrook coach Christopher Davis.

“It was a little contentious there for a second. But we got it all worked out,” Davis said. “Thank you, Colt.”

Davis was grateful, certainly, for Langdon’s 22 points that helped the Wildcats beat Garner 104-77 on Dec. 3. Through five games Langdon — previously a “ball boy” at the John Wall Holiday Invitational — has averaged 15 point per contest.

The annual holiday tournament began last week, but resumed with a full schedule Monday.

Millbrook will return to Invitational action at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Wake Tech’s North Campus. The Wildcats will meet North Mecklenburg or Archbishop Spalding (MD).

As for the earlier-than-usual tipoff time, that shouldn’t be a problem for Langdon who never missed any of Millbrook’s 5:30 a.m. voluntary preseason workouts.

“I trusted the coaches and trusted what they were saying, and tried to get use to the process there,” Langdon said.

“I just try to soak up everything they’ve told me.”

Langdon giving himself to the Wildcats’ process in conjunction with his academic standing and advanced basketball skills made a most favorable impression on Davis. The coach, however, affirmed another school-based component integral to Langdon’s opportunities.

“We’ve been blessed enough to have a good group of seniors, a good group of juniors that understand that’s what’s best for the team,” Davis said. “Our kids want to win. They want to be successful. They know if that kid is one of the best ones that they’ve earned their time.

“It makes it easy for the kids to want to have (Langdon) there with them.”

In his first five games, Langdon has attempted just 39 field goals, making 29 (74 percent). Beyond the three-point arc, Langdon made nine of 16 attempts (56 percent).

“I trust my teammates that when they’re driving the ball, I know that they’ll pass me the ball and they’ll get me open. I just play off of them,” Langdon said. “I’m going to pass it to somebody else, too, and try to get them just as good a shot as they get me.”

Langdon’s on-court efforts align with his academic and spare time pursuits.

Among Langdon’s classes is “Agricultural Mechanics,” in which Langdon has learned welding. Langdon also looks forward to using his new fishing gear, hopefully after helping the Wildcats repeat as N.C. 4A state champions.

Langdon employs simple reasoning for being committed to giving points and receiving constructive criticism pointers from coaches and teammates.

“They know how to win,” Langdon said.

This story was originally published December 27, 2021 at 4:46 PM.