SARNIA – The 2022-23 season may have just ended, but the excitement is already building for 2023-24.
Men’s Basketball Head Coach James Grant and his staff have been hard at work on the recruiting trail as they look to add talented student-athletes to the mix as they build towards the future. A quick trip down the 402 to London is all it took to discover their latest recruit.
Guard Brian Avalo Barrera has officially committed to Coach Grant and the Lambton Men’s Basketball Program for the 2023-24 season.
Barrera is the fourth member of the 2023 recruiting class for the Lions. He will join Brandon Bogart (St. Thomas, Ont.), Albin Gashi (Cambridge, Ont.), and Evander Doxilly (Sarnia, Ont.) as first-year student-athletes with the Lions come September.
“I’m really excited,” said Barrera, on his commitment to Lambton College. “I really like the college community, and I love how tight knit the program is and how everyone appreciates the Athletics program.”
Barrera, a 6’3” guard from London, comes to Lambton College from Mother Teresa Catholic Secondary School where he played under Kwame Aidoo and Alexander Kurowski.
He also has a connection to Lambton College through his experience with Glory Basketball. Barrera played for Greg Robertson, who previously served as an Assistant Coach under Coach Grant with the Lions.
Described as a hard worker and great teammate by his high school coaches, Barrera backed up those sentiments when he was asked what Lambton fans can expect from him next season on the hardwood.
“I’m coming there to work,” added Barrera. “I’m going to put in as much work as possible behind the scenes so that during each game, I can do whatever the coaches need me to do to help the team win.”
For Coach Grant and the Lions, the addition of Barrera adds more size and depth to the back court rotation, one that will begin life without the services of Journee Joseph. Barrera gives the Lions another weapon on the offensive end of the floor while bolstering their defensive presence with his two-way play.
The Lions are coming off a second consecutive appearance in the OCAA Final Four. The Lions finished fourth this past season after winning an OCAA Bronze Medal in 2022.
Welcome to the Den, Brian!