From Mr. Clutch to The King: Khalil Ahmad's Historic Journey to Becoming the CEBL’s All-Time Leading Scorer
St. Catharines, ON – History was made on Sunday afternoon in Ottawa as Khalil Ahmad became the Canadian Elite Basketball League's all-time leading scorer. Entering the game needing just five points to break the record, the River Lions star stood alone atop the league's all-time points leaderboard by halftime.
Ahmad began his night with a reverse layup mid way through the first quarter bringing him within two points of tying and three points of breaking the all-time record. Early in the second quarter Ahmad would tie former River Lions teammate Ahmed Hill for the all-time record on a strong take to the rim which was finished off by an emphatic dunk, gaining a big reaction from his teammates on the bench. Moments later, Ahmad attacked the basket once again and drew a foul. Standing at the free-throw line, he calmly knocked down both attempts to move into sole possession of first place on the CEBL's all-time scoring leaderboard. Ahmad finished the historic night with 12 points, five assists, four rebounds, and two steals. The River Lions would fall to the Ottawa BlackJacks in Sunday's matchup by a score of 92-69.
Ahmad and the rest of his teammates did not seem fazed by the free throw that clinched the scoring record. There were no prolonged celebrations or extended stoppages. The record had been broken, but the game was still being played. It was a fitting reflection of the culture the River Lions have built. Internally, the organization often speaks about being "Championship Calibre"—a standard that values the pursuit of team success above individual accomplishment. Even after Ahmad etched his name atop the CEBL record books, the River Lions immediately turned their attention back to trying to change the outcome of the game. Individual milestones are celebrated, but championships remain the ultimate objective.
Ahmad touched on his mentality entering the game: "Just focused on winning, we had much bigger things to worry about so that was the main focus. I didn't even know until halftime."
Ahmad made an immediate impact upon arriving in the CEBL. He scored 34 points in his league debut and he led the entire CEBL in scoring in his first season. Ahmad was the third fastest player to reach 1,000 points, and the fastest player to reach 1,500 points. In doing so, Ahmad reached the top of the points leaderboard surpassing Ahmed Hill as the leading scorer in CEBL history with 1,641 points in Regular Season and Post-Season appearances. Ahmad reaches this milestone in his 5th season and 82nd game in the CEBL. Sunday's milestone confirmed what many around the league have believed for years: Khalil Ahmad is one of the defining players in league history. Records are made to be broken, but only one player can stand alone atop the CEBL's all-time scoring list. On Sunday afternoon, that player became Khalil Ahmad.
River Lions Head Coach, Kimbal Mackenzie commented on the record: "He's the best player in league history, and we’re happy to have him on our side and super proud of him. Khalil is a good friend of mine and I’ve said it before but as talented and as good of a basketball player as he is, he’s a better dude."
The scoring record is simply the latest addition to a résumé that already ranks among the greatest in CEBL history:
- 2x CEBL Champion (24, 25)
- 2x CEBL Finals MVP (24, 25)
- 1x CEBL MVP (22)
- 1x Defensive Player of the Year (23)
- 2x Clutch Player of the Year (22, 23)
- 1st all time in points (1,641) *
- 1st all time in steals (146)
- 1st all time in TGT Time Winners (30)
Coach Mackenzie commented on what separates Ahmad from the rest of the league: "Work ethic, I mean Khalil is the first one in the gym. When I first joined the team as a player him and AJ Davis would be in the gym for an hour and a half and be in a full sweat before practice had started. His work ethic, his confidence, and his mental approach really make him special. When big games roll around you know Khalil’s going to be ready to go. He’s a supremely talented hooper, but his mental game in the big moments is as good as I’ve seen."
While Ahmad's accomplishments belong in the record books, he was quick to point toward the people who helped him get there: "My family, my girlfriend, my son, my close friends have all played a huge role, I have a pretty great circle that is always supporting me from a distance. After the game I got hundreds of texts and calls so shoutout to all of them because they mean the world to me."
Sunday's milestone was also a testament to the River Lions' sustained excellence. Former River Lion Ahmed Hill previously held the league's all-time scoring record, meaning the top two scorers in CEBL history have both worn Niagara green. Ahmad's record-breaking performance ensured that one of the league's most prestigious individual records remains in River Lions hands. Mackenzie, who shared the court with both players during championship seasons, reflected on what that means to the organization: "Shout out to Med, another great dude and talented guy who was a big part of our championship team and bought into what we were doing. It means a lot to have the top two leading scorers having played in green."
While Ahmad's accomplishments on the court have cemented his place in CEBL history, it was his reflection on what Niagara has meant to him that revealed just how deep his connection to the organization runs: "It’s meant a lot, this is literally like my second family. I've been with this team longer than I’ve been with any other team in my life, so it means a lot. I’m blessed to be able to come back, play with them, and be a part of the team."
Records and accolades will always be part of Ahmad's legacy, but his focus remains on something less tangible—the culture that has defined the River Lions throughout his five seasons in Niagara: "The culture that we've established. I don't want to see it change so just trying to uphold that."
For more information, visit www.riverlions.ca or follow on social: @NiagaraRiverLions on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, & LinkedIn and @RiverLions on X.
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Cole Meyering
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