Personal information | |
---|---|
Born | Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, U.S. | January 25, 1928
Died | August 2, 1996 Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, U.S. | (aged 68)
Career information | |
High school | St. Nicholas (Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania) |
College | Scranton (1947–1950) |
NBA draft | 1950: undrafted |
Playing career | 1950–1957 |
Career history | |
1950–1952 | Wilkes-Barre Barons |
1951–1952 | Pottsville Packers / Wilkes-Barre Aces |
1952–1956 | Williamsport Billies |
1956–1957 | Wilkes-Barre Barons |
Career highlights and awards | |
| |
John Charles Leighton Sr. (January 25, 1928 – August 2, 1996) [1] was an American professional basketball player. [2]
Leighton was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and attended St. Nicholas High School. [2] He played college basketball at the University of Scranton. [2]
Leighton played for the Wilkes-Barre Barons of the American Basketball League from 1950 to 1952. [1] He moved to the Eastern Professional Basketball League (EPBL) during the 1951–52 season to play for the Pottsville Packers. [3] Leighton joined the Williamsport Billies in 1952 and played for the team until 1956. [3] He was selected to the All-EPBL Second Team in 1953 and the First Team in 1954. [3] Leighton led the league in scoring with 517 points during the 1953–54 season. [4] He finished his career with the Wilkes-Barre Barons in the EPBL during the 1956–57 season. [3]
Leighton worked as a real estate broker and owned a real estate insurance and appraisals business in Wilkes-Barre. [2] He died of a sudden illness in a Wilkes-Barre hospital on August 2, 1996. [2]