SARNIA – Another big-time addition for the program from West United.
Forward Arda Ahmetoglu has officially committed to Head Coach James Grant and the Lambton Men’s Basketball Program for the 2026-27 season, and beyond.
Ahmetoglu is the seventh member of the 2026 recruiting class for Coach Grant and company, adding to a talent-laden group of incoming student-athletes for the Men’s Basketball Program. Ahmetoglu joins a recruiting class that features guard Oshane Campbell (Chatham, Ont.), forward Isaac Mackey (Strathroy, Ont.), guard Romane Graham (Whitby, Ont.), guard Aaron Aikoroje (Vaughan, Ont.), guard Aiden Clarke (Scarborough, Ont.), and guard Malachai Torno (North York, Ont.).
“It’s a big day for me and my family, so I’m very happy,” said Ahmetoglu. “I’ve come a long way after a long high school career, but now it’s time to work and see what the future holds.”
“I want to be where I’m wanted. For me, what really stood out to me (about Lambton) is how friendly everyone was. When I went there for a workout, the coaches and the players on the team were all really welcoming. Where I’m wanted is where I want to be, and that was here from the start.”
Ahmetoglu, a six-foot-four forward, comes to Lambton College by way of M. M. Robinson High School in Burlington. Outside of high school, he plays with the West United Prep Academy, a program that has yielded a handful of current Lions over the past two seasons.
At Lambton College, Ahmetoglu will be reunited with several former West United teammates, including Milos Lukac and Mekhi Wilson, both of whom were part of the 2025 recruiting class for the Lions.
Ahmetoglu was a player that stood out to Grant and the Lions coaching staff very early on in the recruiting process, and he was a player high on their list heading into the 2026-27 season.
“Arda is a player that we were really interested in making a Lion from the first time we saw him,” said Grant. “He is strong, plays above the rim, and shoots the three well.”
“He is going to be an exciting addition to our team.”
For Ahmetoglu, who is originally from Istanbul, basketball wasn’t his first love in sports. He grew up a competitive swimmer, excelling in the butterfly discipline. Ahmetoglu didn’t begin playing competitive basketball until 2019.
Now, as he gears up to join the Lions in the fall, he wants Lambton fans to know that he’ll continue to put in the work and do whatever he can to help the team be successful.
“They can expect that I’m a really competitive person,” added Ahmetoglu. “I’ll do whatever it takes to win the game.”
“Whether that’s scoring, rebounding, passing, or defense, I’ll do whatever I can to help the team.”
Academically, Ahmetoglu will be enrolled in the Business Administration Program at Lambton College.
Welcome to The Den, Arda!
For more information, or for any media inquiries within Lambton College Athletics, please contact:
Tyler Bennett
Lambton College Sports Information & Marketing Coordinator
tyler.bennett@lambtoncollege.ca