As three members of the Thad Five await their fortunes in next month’s NBA Draft, the fourth player from that incoming class awaits his sentencing.

David Lighty, who was arrested for firing and shooting a pellet gun that struck a jogger while running on the track at Villa Angela-St. Joseph’s High School in Cleveland last June, will plead guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge.

All told, Lighty and two other members of the VASJ basketball team were involved, and all three were charged with assault, criminal activity on school property and criminal trespassing. All of those charges were misdemeanors.

The case was also referred to a Grand Jury for any possible felony indictments as the investigation lasted nearly a year.

As reported here on BuckeyeBanter.com, the incident happened on Wednesday, June 7, 2006, at about 9 p.m., at the school.

James Nugent, 55, was jogging on the track when he was hit by a plastic BB. He heard the three men in the south bleachers laughing that they had hit him.

Nugent kept jogging because he was afraid to confront the men, according to a police report.

Two Cleveland patrolmen arrived and saw the three men with guns in the bleachers. It was dusk and the officers were unsure whether one of the guns was a BB gun or a real firearm. They pointed their guns at the three men and told them to drop the weapons.

So now what’s going to happen to Lighty? What’s Coach Matta’s next move? A suspension seems likely, though I don’t see him getting kicked off the team at this point.

Last October, Illinois guard Rich McBride was suspended for four games after being arrested for driving under the influence. Are these crimes similar and merit the same punishment?

Tags: Buckeye Basketball //