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SF David Lighty (Most Career Buckeye Wins, ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket - France)

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Lighty says contract with Italian team isn't 'final yet'
Published: Thursday, July 07, 2011
By Bill Tilton
[email protected]

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Villa Angela-St. Joseph and Ohio State graduate David Lighty could be on the verge of heading to Europe to continue his dream of playing professional basketball.

Draftexpress.com reported Lighty signed to play with Cantu, an Italian team in the Euroleague, next season. However, when reached Wednesday afternoon for comment, Lighty said there is no deal in place yet.

?Nothing final yet, but probably will know for sure by the end of the week,? Lighty replied in a text message.

Lighty was determined to play in the NBA rather than overseas, but his name was not called in the June 23 NBA draft. He worked out for almost half of the teams in the league, including the Pistons on the morning of the draft, but was not selected. In addition, the current lockout makes it impossible for undrafted free agents to sign with a team.

Lighty drew interest from the Atlanta Hawks and Phoenix Suns after the draft, but the lockout prevented him from signing with any team.

He averaged 12.1 points, 4 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game for the Buckeyes last season.

Speaking at the LeBron James Skills Academy on Wednesday in Akron, Jared Sullinger said of his former Ohio State teammate: ?He decided to go get his money early. I was excited for him. Lighty is a good dude. He deserves the best.

?With all the stuff he did for that program, he set aside the spotlight. ... All the hard work he?s been through. All the hard times he?s been through. He deserves the best.?
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http://news-herald.com/articles/2011/07/07/sports/doc4e147b707c608451787730.txt?viewmode=fullstory
 
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Former Buckeye Lighty signs professional contract
By R-C Staff

Record-Courier staff report

Former Ohio State standout David Lighty has signed a contract to play professional basketball overseas.

Lighty, a versatile wing player that can score, shoot and play tremendous defense, inked a deal with Cantu of the Euroleague. He was expected to be a mid-second round pick in last month?s NBA Draft, but surprisingly went undrafted.

The NBA is currently in the midst of a lockout that does not have any timetable for its end. In the meantime, Lighty will be playing NBA-level competition, which could provide him with the opportunity to stay in shape, improve and show NBA scouts that he is worth a contract whenever the lockout is lifted.

Lighty finished his career at Ohio State as the winningest-player in school history.
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http://www.recordpub.com/news/sports_article/5061983?page=0
 
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Italian coach says Lighty can do it all
July 11, 2011

David Lighty is on his way to Italy, and his new coach couldn?t be more pleased.

Lighty is a 6-foot-6 swingman out of Ohio State, having played his high school ball at Cleveland's Villa Angela-St. Joseph. He drew interest from NBA teams but was never drafted. So he decided to sign what is believed to be a two-year deal (worth $300,000) with Bennet Cantu of the Italian league.

One big reason Lighty chose Cantu was because of its coach, Andrea Trinchieri, highly respected in international basketball circles. And Trinchieri has a great deal of respect for Lighty, too.

?David is a very intriguing player,? Trinchieri told FOX Sports Ohio. ?He plays very hard and he?s multidimensional.?

Lighty averaged just more than 12 points per game this past season with the Buckeyes. He was mostly known for his versatility, defense and ability to make important shots.

He impressed the Atlanta Hawks, San Antonio Spurs and Phoenix Suns in post-draft workouts -- but with NBA players locked out, he decided to work on his game overseas while getting paid. Spending time in Italy might also increase Lighty?s chances of someday playing in the NBA.

That may be especially true since Lighty is playing under Trinchieri, the Italian league coach of the year each of the past two seasons.

Trinchieri is 43-years old, and interestingly, a Croatian-American who grew up in New York. He splits his time living between the United States and Italy, and his New York City loft was recently featured in the Great Homes section of the New York Times.

Now, Trinchieri thinks Lighty has found a great home (or at least a great place to play basketball) with Cantu.

?He can play (small forward, shooting guard and point guard) and, in special situation, he?s a stretch (power forward),? Trinchieri said of Lighty. ?He?s a very good team player and an amazing defender.?
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http://www.foxsportsohio.com/07/11/..._amico_report.html?blockID=538109&feedID=4015
 
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Here's clips of David Lighty's Euroleague debut from last week. His club, Bennet Cantu, of Italy defeated the defending French Champions SLUC Nancy (10.19). Dave hit both of his shot attempts, a corner three right after he received the ball for the first time..and then he goes at French star Nicolas Batum of the Portland Trailblazers! Lighty is currently in Spain for Euroleague game #2 against a tough team from that country's league (10.26.).

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zui1nIHAekw"]David Lighty Euroleague Debut 10.19.2011 - YouTube[/ame]
 
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Lighty leaves Cantu

Former Ohio State and Villa Angela-St. Joseph star David Lighty left Bennet Cantu in Italy. He signed a two-year deal with Cantu, but earned very little playing time for the Italian club early on. The team parted ways with the 6-6, 220-pounder in early December.

He signed with Vanoli-Braga Cremona in Italy. Lighty is starting and playing more than 30 minutes a game. He's averaging almost 10 points.

"He wasn't playing enough (for Cantu)," David's mother, Emily Lighty, said. "He needs to be playing."

The goal is for Lighty to catch the eye of an NBA team.
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http://news-herald.com/articles/2012/01/14/sports/nh4973975.txt?viewmode=fullstory
 
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David Lighty won't shy away from his Buckeyes: Celebrity Bracketology Challenge
Published: Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Plain Dealer staff

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CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Big surprise, former Ohio State basketball standout David Lighty is calling for the Buckeyes to win the national title.

He has no shame picking his Buckeyes to cut down the nets in New Orleans in his bracket for The Plain Dealer's sixth annual Celebrity Bracketology Challenge.

"I will start with saying yes I am being biased because I went to OSU. How can I go against them lol," Lighty wrote in an email from Italy.

Lighty's handwritten and signed bracket is here.

Brackets for the final two sports celebrities will be published Thursday.

After going undrafted last spring, Lighty signed with Bennet Cantu in the Italian League. He left the team in December and signed with Vanoli-Braga Cremona in the same league.

Lighty's other Final Four predictions are Nos. 1 Kentucky and North Carolina and No. 2 Missouri. He says the second-seeded Buckeyes will upset Kentucky in the championship game.

"The West Region will be a toss up between Missouri, Michigan State and Marquette," said Lighty, The Plain Dealer's high school player of the year in 2005 when he starred at Villa Angela-St. Joseph. "Kentucky has too much firepower for everyone in the South Region. OSU won't have an easy task with Florida State, who has been playing very well lately, and Syracuse, but they will find a way.

"UNC and Kansas will be another great game, but Harrison Barnes will be the X-factor."

Lighty, who is averaging 10.6 points and 4.6 rebounds in 14 games, said he will be able to watch lots of games, especially with the six-hour time difference.
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http://www.cleveland.com/marchmadness/index.ssf/2012/03/david_lighty_wont_shy_away_fro.html
 
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Former Ohio State basketball standout David Lighty still convinced Buckeyes will win NCAA Tournament (SBTV)
Published: Friday, March 16, 2012
By Starting Blocks, The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Welcome to a special NCAA Tournament edition of Starting Blocks TV, cleveland.com's video show.

We're talking NCAA brackets and Ohio State postseason basketball with former Buckeyes standout David Lighty on the show, hosted by Kristen Davis and Chuck Yarborough. Lighty is one of five contestants in The Plain Dealer's sixth annual Celebrity Bracketology Challenge.

On the show, Lighty defends predicting second-seeded Ohio State to win it all in his bracket for the contest. Lighty also breaks down this year's Buckeyes team and predicts the score of Saturday's second round game against No. 7 Gonzaga.

Lighty, a Plain Dealer player of the year his senior season at Villa Angela-St. Joseph, also discusses life and food in Italy and playing professionally for Vanoli-Braga Cremona.

Lighty says he's confident he will pick up a lot more points in the bracket contest Friday.

After the first day of NCAA tournament action, Lighty stands fourth in the Celebrity Bracketology Challenge standings with 55 points. Defending champion J.J. Hickson, Browns receiver Greg Little and "Average Joe" Jeff Verdone, a Euclid resident selected in a contest to represent Cleveland sports fans, are tied for the lead with 65 points. Indians pitcher Justin Masterson is fifth with 50 points.
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http://www.cleveland.com/ohio-sports-blog/index.ssf/2012/03/former_ohio_state_basketball_s.html
 
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