Shooting Star

Felix Lang came to Valley College for basketball and for an education.

He is getting an education in basketball.

“We’ve had to tone him down a little bit without taking away his spirit,” Coach Doug Michelson said.

Lang, known as “Flex” to his friends, joined the Monarchs last season with a predilection for shooting.

It wasn’t as much selfishness as it was programming.

He had been the go-to guy at Hamilton High, a stylish guard with a sweet jump shot that produced 27 points per game his senior season.

At Valley, there were plenty of guys who could shoot. Lang had to share the ball, but it didn’t come easy.

“That’s why he played limited minutes last season,” Michelson said.

Not anymore.

Lang, 6 feet 3 and pushing 185 pounds, is starting and getting his quota of shots in Valley’s balanced offense.

He leads the team in scoring at 14.3 points per game and in shooting at 51.2%, primarily because of his discriminating shot selection.

Saturday, in Valley’s 90-86 victory over Canyons, Lang scored 30 points. He made 11 of 14 shots from the field, including both of his three-point attempts, and six of seven free throws.

Lang scored 16 points in another Valley victory over Canyons earlier this season.

“He’s just been real effective against us,” Canyons Coach Lee Smelser said. “He was called on to make some tough shots against us and he did. He’s a really polished player.”

The Monarchs, ranked No. 16 in the state, were 19-6 and leading the Western State Conference Southern Division at 6-1 before an interdivision home game against Ventura on Wednesday night.

For Lang, winning is what it’s all about.

“When you play with other players who are good, it takes the pressure off you,” Lang said. “At Hamilton, I scored a lot, but our record wasn’t as good. We’re winning here and I’ll take that any day.”

Lang, 19, first played organized basketball in youth leagues. That’s when someone first called him “Flex,” although he doesn’t remember who or why. Now the nickname fits Lang, who glides on the court with style and cachet.

He stopped playing for a while and didn’t plan to play in high school, skipping basketball his freshman year. But Lang didn’t hide his ability well at Hamilton.

“I wasn’t really into playing basketball,” Lang said. “One of the coaches saw me playing in [physical education] and asked me to come out for summer league. Then I started getting into it. I ended up playing on travel teams and I have been playing ever since.”

His senior season, when he was an all-league selection, was difficult for Lang emotionally. His father, Felix Sr., died of cancer the previous summer. He was in his mid-40s.

“We had a close relationship,” said the soft-spoken Lang. “Not buddy-buddy, but close. He was there for me.”

Lang didn’t qualify academically for a four-year college and chose Valley. He is a physical education major graduating in May and a good bet to play somewhere the next two seasons.

Michelson said Drake, Southern Illinois, Portland and Montana State are among the Division I programs recruiting Lang, along with several Division II schools.

“Once was enough for me not doing the job [academically],” Lang said. “I learned my lesson.”

Much like he has learned to choose his shots more carefully.

“He had to really buy into our program as far as sharing the ball,” Michelson said. “He has done that. He’s doing a tremendous job.”