River Lions ink dynamic guard
The Niagara River Lions have inked their first American player for the 2022 Canadian Elite Basketball League season.
Khalil Amhad, a 6-foot-4 shooting guard from Corona, Calif., joins import Tidjan Keita and Canadians Daniel Waldin-Mullings, Jaylen-Babb Harrison, Jake Babic and Alonzo Walker.
“Khalil is an explosive, dynamic guard with a great feel for the game” River Lions co-general manager and head of basketball operations Antwi Atuahene said. “He’s an elite playmaker and a high level, three level scorer. We are excited to get Khalil in a River Lions uniform this summer.”
Amhad will arrive in St. Catharines after playing with Horsens IC of the Basketligaen in Denmark. With Horsens IC, the 25-year-old is averaging an impressive 20.8 points, 4.5 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game in 18 games played. It is his second season playing professionally.
“I am so grateful for this opportunity,” Amhad said. “I am excited and looking forward to getting to work with a great group of guys and, of course, win a championship.”
Prior to turning pro, he spent four years at Cal State Fullerton. He netted 1,768 points in 117 games, which represents the third-highest total in program history. He was named the Big West Freshman of the Year in 2015 and was one of just five athletes in school history to earn All-Conference honours three or more times. During his time at Cal State Fullerton, Ahmad recorded five 30-point games and 27 20-point games. He holds the school’s freshman record for most points scored with 429 and the 40 points he scored in a game during his senior season, is tied for the third highest in school history.
Ahmad competed in the 2019 Drew Summer League in Los Angeles, an invitation-only league that recruits elite NBA and overseas talent. He recorded a 20-point game playing alongside the likes of Nick Young, DeMar DeRozan and Stanley Johnson.
Ahmad signed his first professional contract with Keflavik Basketball Club in the Domino’s Deildin league in Iceland. There, he averaged 19 points, 4.6 rebounds, three assists and two steals per game.
Training camp for the River Lions will open May 15. The River Lions, who went 10-4 in the 2021 regular season and advanced to the championship game, open the 2022 season May 25 on the road in Saskatchewan. Their home opener will be June 3 at the Meridian Centre against the expansion Montreal Alliance.
Season tickets and voucher packs for the recently announced 2022 schedule are on sale now. Visit www.riverlions.ca/seasontickets for more information.
The voucher packs are available in both six-game and 10-game packages. Six-game packs start at $108 and 10-game packs start at $180. The vouchers can be used for any home game and the purchaser is able to use how many vouchers they want to use for each game.
