Robert DiSibio has had quite an interesting, impressive, and diverse basketball career — on and off the court, in the states and overseas. DiSibio, a 2019 graduate of Newtown High School, spent some of this summer competing against top-level competition in the NBA Summer League with the Milwaukee Bucks. He is headed back to Italy in September to resume play for Moncada Energy Agrigento in Italian Serie B Nazionale where he made his professional hoops debut in 2024.

DiSibio’s path to these notable basketball stops is unique and, not unlike many things in life, hard work, natural ability, stick-to-itiveness, and a bunch of pieces falling into place have made things happen.

A 2024 graduate of Washington and Lee University (Lexington, Va.), where he was a standout on the hardwood, becoming the program’s fifth all-time leading scorer with 1,708 points, DiSibio’s most defining collegiate moment might have actually been during the least ceremonial time in his playing career.

After getting into 23 games off the bench in 2019-20, DiSibio and his Washington and Lee Generals teammates had their 2020-21 season wiped out by the impact of the coronavirus. “During that year I trained really hard and approached the game as a professional,” DiSibio said.

Fast-forward three years and DiSibio became a professional.

Getting to play overseas was a result of marketing himself, hiring an agent with basketball contacts in Italy, and obtaining his Italian citizenship and passport — made possible by his dad having been born near Naples. Restrictions on the number of foreign players permitted to play in Italy made the latter essential for getting a decent chance. Game film showing DiSibio’s playing abilities got him recognized and on the roster.

DiSibio played in all 38 games for his Italian team. He averaged 7.6 points and 3.7 rebounds in 21.4 minutes per game, while shooting 49.8 percent from the field, 41.9 percent from outside the arc, and 80 percent at the free throw line. DiSibio’s first professional season was highlighted by a season-high 23 points on 10-of-17 shooting and 3-of-7 from long range to help his lineup to an 80-65 win over Fiorenzuola on February 16 of 2025. The team went 22-16 and placed seventh among 20 teams in Group A.

The experience playing in Italy was a significant part of his opportunity with the Bucks Summer League team.

“Having played my first season professionally helped expand my knowledge of different offensive and defensive concepts and details within the game. Having a full year to work on my body has allowed me to be in the best shape I’ve ever been in coming into the summer, and the physicality I faced overseas forced me to adapt and become physically and mentally stronger. I certainly wouldn’t be here without an incredible infrastructure. My parents and family, friends and former teammates, and Coach Chris McHugh ‘09 all deserve a huge thank you for their support,” DiSibio was quoted as saying in a July 5 announcement on the Washington and Lee website.

There was a notable connection with the Bucks’ organization during DiSibio’s college days. He interned with the Bucks for three years. His first was in the Business Office and some of his experience included ticket sales. The next two were in the Basketball Operations Office. DiSibio did projects for the Scouting Department and Strategy Analytics Department. Having worked in the Bucks’ office, DiSibio is interested in a front-office career.

Working behind the scenes was a rewarding experience and being in the game with the NBA Summer League team was an even more thrilling step in DiSibio’s hoops career.

“I am extremely grateful to the Milwaukee Bucks organization for giving me the opportunity to play Summer League with them this year,” said DiSibio. “It is such an incredible experience to play at this level and be a part of their culture while learning from the coaching staff.”

DiSibio is one of 20 players who made the Bucks’ Summer League squad, and one of 11 rookie players. He competed in practices against the highest-level players he has faced. “I think the biggest separator is the athleticism. These guys are gifted athletes,” he said. “Everything happened at a faster pace. It was tough — it was a challenge.”

In addition to gaining valuable playing experience, DiSibio and his teammates helped elevate each other’s games.

With that in mind, playing basketball might not be an end-all career option for DiSibio, but he has other passions and interests he ties into the game he enjoys. During his free time around playing in Italy, DiSibio started a business, Clutchmind Basketball (clutchmindbball.com), designed to maximize player potential. DiSibio believes it is important to mentor young players and said guidance he received helped him along the way in his basketball life.

DiSibio specifically gave a shout out to not only McHugh, his coach in college, but also Connecticut coaches Isaac Gyimah and Donnell Harvey along with his parents. He was pushed to work hard and commit to what he was doing. “That stuff makes a huge difference,” DiSibio noted.

Having majored in Cognitive and Behavioral Science, DiSibio notes that it is important to apply psychology to playing the sport. “I’m so passionate about it because it’s directly tied to the game,” DiSibio said.

DiSibio said he has learned that you have to work hard and approach things from a holistic perspective. “You can only be on the basketball court for so many hours a day before you run yourself into the ground,” said DiSibio, adding that he dove deep into the mindfulness aspects of being an athlete — eating properly, and rest and recovery time, for example.

“It feels great because I feel like I can apply these skills to anything,” he said.

Meanwhile, DiSibio will continue to play the game and is looking forward to returning to Italy.

“I’m just hoping to improve on what I did last year at that level. I don’t think about playing in the NBA. In the forefront of my mind is maximizing my potential. Wherever I end up at the end is where I end up. As long as I walk away from my career knowing I put everything into it and I didn’t sell myself short I’ll be satisfied,” DiSibio said.

“I want to play for as long as I am able and it makes sense for me to play,” he added.

Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.