LEADING THE CHARGE—Los Angeles Lightning point guard Drew Housman, left, a Calabasas High and Harvard graduate, blows by his defender during an International Basketball League contest last weekend at Cal Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks. Housman plays pro ball in Israel. WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers Drew Housman never heard of the Los Angeles Lightning.

“I thought it was an adult league team,” he said. “I didn’t know.”

The former Calabasas High boys’ basketball star, who plays pro ball in Israel, has spent the past few weeks lighting up scoreboards for the Lightning, a semipro basketball team based in Thousand Oaks.

So far, Housman’s International Basketball League experience has been positive.

After celebrating his 23rd birthday on June 1, he made his pro American debut on June 4, ironically, at Calabasas High.

Former Coyote teammate Shayaun Saee suited up that night for the opponent, the USA All-Stars of Newport Beach.

“We pulled into the parking lot at the same time,” Saee said. “We had no idea what was going on.

“I said, ‘Are you coming to watch the game?’ He said, ‘No.’ Then he asked, ‘Are you coming to watch the game?’ I said, ‘No.’ It’s pretty funny. Here we were, playing against each other.”

Housman scored eight points and had two steals in his 16-minute debut.

The former Coyote enjoyed his finest game on June 6, also against the All-Stars, by pouring in 28 points on 12-of-16 shooting with nine assists.

The Lightning is 5-0 since he joined the squad.

Housman’s journey has been quite remarkable.

He made the CHS varsity team as a 5-foot-3 freshman.

The savvy guard helped the Coyotes win their first league title in school history, reach a section championship game and usher in the greatest era of hoops in school history.

“He led a resurgence of basketball at Calabasas,” said former Coyote coach Russell White, who guided Crespi’s boys’ hoops team to a CIF-Southern Section Division 4A championship this spring.

“He was not only our best player but he was also our hardest worker in practice every day.”

The 6-foot-1 guard went on to star in Harvard’s backcourt.

After his 2009 Harvard graduation, he signed a two-year contract with Hapoel Kiryat Tivon, a second division team in Israel.

Kiryat Tivon is near Haifa.

At only his second practice, the guard tore his MCL and missed 10 weeks of action. He called the knee injury a “huge setback.”

Housman, who has dual citizenship, started getting into a groove when he returned to the court. He battled his way into the starting lineup, helping Hapoel reach the postseason semifinals.

He hopes to break through in the Premier League with Maccabi Haifa Heat.

“That’s the goal,” Housman said.

He has adjusted well to life in Israel.

Although he’s away from family and friends, there are several Americans on the team and most Israelis speak English.

He’s also had ESPN hooked up to his television.

Housman is always working on sharpening his skills.

“I’m trying to improve my defense, especially off the ball,” he said. “I want to extend my 3-point range with more catch-and-shoot threes. The further you can shoot, the better. But it’s more than that. I want to get my catch-and-shooting game going.”

Housman thought he was going to relax at home this summer.

“My dad’s hounding me to get a job. I don’t know if I’m up for that right now,” he said with a laugh. “If anyone has a cush parttime office job, I’ll take it. For now, I’m working out, staying in shape, playing basketball and having some fun while I’m home.”

Housman has enjoyed playing with the Lightning, often side-byside with former NBA players like Bryon Russell.

“He’s a really nice guy,” Housman said of Russell. “He’s always encouraging. He tells me to shoot more.”

Saee said Housman is still on top of his game.

“He’s always been good at running a team,” said Saee, who recently returned from playing his first professional season overseas in Iran. “He’s a good shooter.

“Drew works hard. Some people who have it sit on their talent. Drew constantly works. He’s always shooting outside his house or at Calabasas. We’re about to shoot at Calabasas right now.”

Housman, the son of Ronald and Joann, has a brother, Jonathan, who also played basketball at CHS. His sister, Catie, will be an incoming freshman this fall.

He said his parents’ support, by driving the youngster to camps and practices, has been instrumental to his success.

The former Coyote will leave for Israel in late August to begin his second professional season.

“My sights are always set high,” Housman said. “When I take a step back, it’s cool. Not many people get paid to play basketball. I get to see the world.”

What else is nice about being a pro basketball player?

“Getting a summer off,” Housman said. “All my friends don’t have summers off anymore. It’s something I have to take advantage of and appreciate.”