Second home sweet home for Ahmad
Khalil Ahmad wasted little time returning to the Niagara River Lions for his third Canadian Elite Basketball League season.
When his season ended with Filou Oostende of the BNXT League in Belgium, where he averaged 16.1 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game, the 27-year-old spend two days at his home in Corona, Calif., before arriving back in St. Catharines at 3 a.m. this past Monday.
“I got home Friday night and left Monday morning,” said the 2023 CEBL Defensive Player of the Year.
There was never any thoughts of remaining in California for an extended break.
“I was ready to get with the guys. This is my third year here and it is like my second home. It is really important to me to be something here and keep them going,” said the 2022 CEBL Clutch Player of the Year and Player of the Year.
The former scholarship player at Cal State Fullerton isn’t exaggerating when he refers to Niagara as his second home.
“It’s the people from top to bottom, not only in the organization but outside, the fans and everybody around the whole St. Catharines area,” the 6-foot-4 guard said. “They make it a real home for me, giving me directions and suggestions for places to eat. Little things like that matter to me.”
Ahmad has been kept company in Niagara by his six-year-old son, Kaysen, in the past and he will be back with his dad in Niagara in about a week and a half.
“He is like my biggest motivation. It’s important for him to be here because when I am overseas it is hard for him to make that flight now that he is in kindergarten and going into First Grade next year. It is difficult being apart and him being here means the world to me.”
Ahmed made an impressive return to the River Lions Wednesday in an 81-78 home victory over the defending champion Scarborough Shooting Stars. He scored a team-high 18 points, including 10 of his team’s 12 points in target time. He recorded the Elam game-winner on a contested three which was no surprise considering he had 10 Elam winners in 2022 and a further eight in 2023.
Ahmad is clearly comfortable being the team’s closer and it has been a role he has been familiar with for a long time.
“The work gives you the confidence and I have been working my whole life.”
It was a role he took upon himself in his senior year of high school.
“Before that, you would have never recognized me. I was 6-foot-3 playing the five and I was nothing like I am now. But my game developed.”
It really clicked for him during his freshman and sophomore years at Cal State Fullerton.
“In high school it started, but in college I really started getting confidence in scoring, in myself and my game. It has developed over time and my game has grown mentally and physically.”
Niagara sits in first place in the Eastern Conference with a 5-3 record and hosts the Montreal Alliance Friday at 7 p.m.
Visit www.riverlions.ca/tickets for more information.
