Consensus 2025 wing top-30 Nikolas Khamenia is in Durham (NC) today, visiting with the Duke Blue Devils. Duke is the 6-8 210-pound forward’s third straight weekend visit and his second to last of his five finalists. He is slated to visit UCLA early next month.
Duke is the last school to offer Khamenia, doing so at the end of June. According to Adam Rowe of The Devils Den, Khamenia attracted the Blue Devils’ attention while playing Duke freshman Patrick Ngongba with Team USA’s U18 squad that won the gold medal.
Top 30 Wing Nikolas Khamenia Visits Duke and Has an Upcoming Visit To A Big 10 Program, 2 Programs Considered Favorites
Khamenia averaged 7.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists, with shooting splits of 36.6/38.5/61.1% in six U18 appearances. The Westlake (Calif.) native, who scored twice in the tournament double-figures, produced 11 points, eight rebounds, and three assists in the gold medal game against Argentina.
Khamenia also led Team USA’s U18 3×3 team to a gold medal this summer and was named the event’s MVP.
Prior to visiting Duke, Khamenia took official visits to UNC (September 6) and Arizona (August 30). He was in Gonzaga last October and will visit UCLA on October 4.
Khamenia is considered a four-star prospect, and the No. 26 recruit in the class with a 96.61 rating. Of the four major recruiting services, 247Sports has him rated the highest at No. 19, and Rivals lists him at No. 40.
The following is a scouting report on Khamenia from On3’s Jaime Shaw.
Nik Khamenia’s skill set is what pop’s. He is a quick processor with excellent passing touch from different levels on the floor. He is able to move the ball around off a live dribble or set up in the half court. Khamenia is a smooth shooter off the catch and has deep range when stepping into shots from three. The balance points can get a little off when shooting off movement. The question here will be the athleticism. He can struggle finishing at the rim and there will be defensive questions. He has excellent feel and understands rotations and positioning very well. Great off ball anticipation. He rebounds his area. An ultimate competitor. Toughness. He’s vocal.
Khamenia’s Recruiting
Khamenia holds over 25 scholarship offers. Before this weekend, Khamenia was in Arizona (September 30) and UNC (August 6). He also visited Gonzaga last October and will take his official to UCLA (October 4). He has been on the Westwood campus a couple of times for unofficial visits.
When we last looked at Khamenia’s recruiting about a month ago, Arizona was considered the slight favorite for his services. Gonzaga and UNC were the other two main schools, with UCLA and Duke considered a distant fourth and fifth. Has anything changed?
The following is Shaw’s info on Thursday, before Khamenia’s landing in Durham.
Much of the early talk around Nik Khamenia’s recruitment had Gonzaga carrying some momentum. The four-star made that official visit in October 2023, and the Zags have since continued to recruit him throughout the process.
With that, sources around the recruitment tell me things have shifted over the past couple of weeks. In that time frame, Khamenia has taken his official visits to Arizona and UNC. I am told from sources around the recruitment that both visits went very well, and that Khamenia walked away impressed. One source even used the terminology, “as well as it could have.
Something to watch with this recruitment is how hard each school pushes for Khamenia. He started this summer for the Tommy Lloyd coached U18 USA team and the pair won a gold medal together. I am told that Khamenia, and his group, clearly see the fit with a UNC-led Hubert Davis team having seen the recent success of Brady Manek and Harrison Ingram.
While Arizona and UNC are the two programs that currently carry momentum, one source close to the recruitment told me to watch the Duke visit. I am told there is some uncertainty around Khamenia’s circle regarding where the four-star stands on the recruiting board for the Blue Devils. If the trip is taken, one of the things I am told they will want to discuss – and feel comfortable with – the recruiting class as a whole.
A source close to the recruitment recently told me they do not expect Gonzaga or UCLA to be the choice. Another source told me this week that, at this time, they feel that things are still somewhat open for Khamenia, but if they had to choose today it would be for either Arizona or UNC. Everyone I have talked to around the recruitment has not mentioned Duke in the lead right now, but they have all suggested watching what happens with the Blue Devils.
Gonzaga is the only school to pick up a commitment from the class of 2025 thus far.
