Tony Barbee made a promise at his introductory press conference in March that he and his coaching staff wouldn’t let the state of Alabama’s top basketball prospects out of Auburn’s reach without a fight.

A few weeks later, Barbee backed it up in a big way.

The state of Alabama’s unanimous top basketball recruit, Josh Langford of Lee High School in Huntsville, announced Thursday that he will sign with Auburn.

“I’m excited that Josh has decided to join the Auburn family,” Barbee said in a university release. “He is a huge recruit for me and for the program as we try to establish Auburn as one of the programs to beat on the floor and in recruiting in the Southeast.

“Getting the best player in the state of Alabama in the Class of 2010 was very important to establish that we are going to go after the best, and Josh is the best in Alabama this year.”

Langford, who was named the Birmingham News’ No. 1 Super Senior of 2009, is the first top-ranked player in the state to sign with the Tigers since Doc Robinson (Selma) in 1995.

Langford, a 6-foot-7, 203-pound swingman, has the potential to start right away. He led his team to the 5A State Championship this season, averaging 22 points and 13 rebounds per game. He was named the MVP of the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game after scoring a game-high 25 points to go along with nine rebounds.

Langford was not originally recruited by Jeff Lebo’s staff, so Barbee and Co. had to act fast and furious.

Barbee, though, had a previous relationship with Langford, as he tried to recruit him to UTEP while he was still the Miners’ coach.

Langford had offers from a number of major schools across not only the SEC, but the nation. He narrowed his field down to Cincinnati, Ole Miss and West Virginia before ultimately choosing Auburn.

Langford joins junior Frankie Sullivan as the only scholarship players on Auburn’s roster who hail from Alabama. He is the first Huntsville native to sign with the Tigers since Bryant Smith in 1998.

Auburn has at least one scholarship it can fill by May 19, the deadline to sign players for the 2010-11 season. The two slots opened for Barbee when guard Jalen Steele (Knoxville, Tenn.) and point guard Anthony Salter (Iowa Western Community College) both asked to be released from their Letters of Intent.

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