Liggins Wins USA Basketball 3x3 National Tournament

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Former Kentucky men’s basketball player DeAndre Liggins won the USA Basketball 3×3 Men’s National Tournament over the weekend and will represent USA Basketball at the 2016 FIBA 3×3 World Championship that will be held Oct. 11-15 in Guangzhou, China.

Liggins (2009-11) played for 3Ball Premier, which went 8-0 overall, including a close 21-19 victory in the championship game. Liggins dished out the game-winning assist in the victory.

The 2016 FIBA 3×3 World Championships will feature 40 teams from 30 different countries around the world. The U.S. men are seeking their first medal in the event, which began in 2012 and is held every other year.

Liggins is coming off an NBA D-League championship and his second NBA D-League Defensive Player of the Year award in the last three seasons. He also won it in 2014.

The 6-foot-6 guard picked up with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Summer League and averaged 5.9 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists. According to multiple reports, Liggins earned a training camp deal with the Cavaliers, although the Cavaliers have not officially announced the signing.

Liggins played three seasons at Kentucky, scoring 576 total points along with 297 rebounds, 211 assists and 90 steals. Known best for his suffocating on-ball defense, Liggins averaged 8.6 points and 4.0 rebounds during the 2010-11 season that ended in a Final Four berth, the program’s first since 1998.

Following the season, Liggins was selected 53rd overall in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic. He’s also played with the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Miami Heat.