Tall, dark, handsome, talented, articulate in Italian: this Campus Celebrity could easily cross over to the Campus Cutie archives. But as a 24-year-old professional basketball player, Dane DiLiegro is far more worthy of celebrity status on and off campus.
The 6-foot-9-inch University of New Hampshire alumnus makes his current home in Sassari, Italy, where he plays professional basketball in the Italian basketball league. His team, Dinamo Basket Sassari, competes in Serie A, the highest level of competition in Italian professional basketball.
From 2007 to 2011, DiLiegro shuffled the courts of Lundholm Gymnasium and performed his signature dunk that never failed to propel fans into a frenzy. The move also earned him the #7 spot on SportsCenter’s Top Ten plays list.
How did you get involved in the Italian basketball league?
Before graduating from UNH, Dane signed with an agent who advertised him to multiple teams around Europe. Electing to play in Italy, Dane signed a one-year contract with Assi Basket Ostuni, a second division professional team. At the conclusion of the year, Dane’s skills improved, and he was elected to sign with Dinamo Basket Sassari.
How long have you been playing basketball?
Dane began playing basketball at age 5. He graduated high school in his hometown of Lexington, Mass. and attended a year at Worcester Academy. From there, he was offered a full scholarship to play center for the UNH Men’s Basketball team. After graduating, he moved to Ostuni, Italy in August 2011 to play for Assi Basket Ostuni, then to Sassari, Italy in August 2012 for his current team.
Do you intend to continue this profession in the future?
“I want to play as long as I can,” he said. At 24 years old, Dane is the youngest member of his team, and he plans to enjoy his career wherever it takes him.
Do you ever want to try to play in the U.S.?
“Hopefully I can be on an NBA summer league team,” he said. But not for the fame, or the money, or anything else you’d expect. “I want to come away with something NBA with my name on it, like a jersey. I can put that next to my bed at home.”
What would you like to do after your basketball career?
As if getting paid to play the sport he loves isn’t amazing enough, Dane admitted that he hardly spends any of the money he makes. The athlete instead sends his earnings home to a save it for the future.
In terms of a possible career path later in life… Dane listed some ideas: “Maybe open a burger place… host a travel channel show… become a chef… become an actor…”
What is the best part about playing professional basketball?
“Not sitting at a desk. A lot of my friends have desk jobs and I don’t think I could do that. So I’m lucky to have the job I have.”
(And although he didn’t say so, I’m sure his complementary two-bedroom apartment and brand new BMW x6 are pretty nice perks as well).
What do you do for fun outside of basketball?
When he’s not busy with basketball, Dane enjoys photography. He especially likes to participate in Urban Exploration around various parts of Italy. Urban Exploration, he explained, is essentially taking artistic photos in abandoned buildings and caves and places like that.
He religiously posts awesome pictures on Instagram (DDNumeroUno, follow him).
He has a passion for cooking, and he looks really good at it too! Check out his website! http://www.midnightsnackbeast….
His favorite thing to cook: pasta.
Why: he’s into a wide variety of sauces.
His favorite thing to eat: sandwiches… with every and any condiment, except mayonnaise.
Follow Dane on Twitter, too! @DDNumeroUno
And watch some more of his awesome basketball skills