Former Ohio State star guard/forward David Lighty remains under contract with AVSEL Basket and is expected to return for the 2024-25 season.
Lighty, 36, is a product of Cleveland Villa-Angela St. Joseph High School and has spent his entire professional career overseas. He went undrafted by the NBA in 2011 — though he did land a training camp deal with the Atlanta Hawks in 2013, only to be released before the start of that season.
He also played for the New Orleans Pelicans’ summer team in 2016.
AVSEL Basket is the team owned by former San Antonio Spurs star Tony Parker and features several notable former NBA players. That list includes Admiral Schofield (who just signed) and other newcomers, such as Theo Maledon, Melvin Ajinca, Tarik Black and Shaquille Harrison. Ex-NBA guard Nando De Colo also signed an extension with the club this offseason.
Meanwhile, former NBA forwards Mike Scott and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot left, as did ex-Ohio State star Deshaun Thomas, who remains a free agent.
Lighty is a former French League Finals MVP and signed a two-year extension with AVSEL that runs through the 2025-26 season. He has also spent time playing in Italy and for other French teams.
He reacted to Ohio State firing ex-coach Chris Holtmann in February, suggesting that a change was needed.
“It was a shock for me,” Lighty said, via Eleven Warriors. “I thought if any changes would happen from the Ohio State Buckeyes in a coach position, I thought it would be at the end of the season. But (Gene Smith) hit us with one and said we’re gonna get that started now for some reason.”
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