CLEVELAND, Ohio — A year has passed since David Lighty last took the court for Ohio State. The Villa Angela-St. Joseph product, who went on to star for the Buckeyes, now plays pro basketball for Vanoli-Braga Cremona in Italy.

He has moved on, moved an ocean away.

But his mother, Emily Lighty, is as close to these Buckeyes as she was with any of the players in the five years her son attended OSU.

All season, she has stayed in close contact with this group of Buckeyes. She sent food from her mother -- Grandma Lighty -- when she could; she attended OSU's Senior Night for William Buford; she jokes around with Lenzelle Smith Jr. and his mom often.

"There were so many great groups of guys that came through, but this is just such a special group," Emily Lighty said. "That group of guys was the best, most sweet and respectful and kindest group of young men of all the years I was there. I became pretty fond of all of them."

They call her "Mama," a nod to the mutual respect the players share. And it's that family bond that Emily Lighty is certain helped the Buckeyes in advancing to the Final Four this season, even without her son on the squad.

"It's a testament to the group of guys that they are, that they hit some adversity and pulled together as a family, and made this happen," Emily Lighty said. "The family that plays together stays together, and they're a group that has done just that."

David Lighty has kept in touch with his former teammates electronically -- "He's just a Tweet away," Emily Lighty joked -- during the Buckeyes' run through the NCAA Tournament. And his old teammates still attribute much of their success to the former steadying OSU leader. Smith recently told Mama Lighty that they're "carrying on [David's] legacy," -- a comment that moved Emily to tears.

The "team mom," as she likes to joke, won't be in New Orleans to cheer on her 14 surrogate sons this weekend.

"But we'll definitely be watching and rooting and cheering, and they'll hear us all the way in New Orleans," Emily Lighty boasted. "We'll be wishing them nothing but the best. They deserve it."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: jvalade@plaind.com, 216-999-4654