Four-star forward Nikolas Khamenia, the No. 27 player in the 2025 recruiting class, per the 247Sports composite, has committed to Duke, he announced Tuesday.
Khamenia had long been considered a UCLA lean, but ultimately chose the Blue Devils over the Bruins and the Gonzaga Bulldogs, his other finalists.
The 6-foot-8, 210-pound Khamenia is Duke’s third commitment already for 2025, giving the Blue Devils and coach Jon Scheyer the early lead on landing the nation’s top recruiting class. Earlier this month, Scheyer landed legacy twins Cameron and Cayden Boozer — the No. 2 and 21 players in the class, respectively — to give Duke two building blocks for the future. Now with Khamenia in the fold, Duke has three of the nation’s top-30 recruits already committed, with more sure to be added in the coming months.
The moment that 4⭐️ PF Nikolas Khamenia announced his commitment to Duke! 🔥
MORE: https://t.co/cVl6eSiIM1 pic.twitter.com/zJ0tcCWnIj
— 247Sports (@247Sports) October 22, 2024
If Duke winds up with the nation’s top-ranked recruiting class, it would be the third time in four years that the program has done so under Scheyer, who landed the top class in 2022 before officially taking over for the retiring Mike Krzyzewski.
Skill-wise, Khamenia’s two calling cards are his passing and shooting, which comfortably extends out to the 3-point line. Khamenia isn’t the sort of ball-handling big that Kyle Filipowski was (or that Cooper Flagg will be this season), but he’s well-suited to be a passing hub with his creativity and vision.
As he gets stronger, it’s easy to imagine him punishing opposing double-teams and traps out of the post. And while he’s not a primary ball handler, he can locate teammates with a live dribble, and has the ability to hit them in stride. His 3-point shot is another strength, with demonstrated consistency at the highest levels of youth basketball. He should be a perimeter threat from the get-go, as a low-usage shooter-connector Scheyer can plug around Boozer and any potential returnees.
Very impressed with 4⭐️ Nikolas Khamenia (@NikolasKhamenia) @Wootten_Camp
Can really shoot it from anywhere on the floor and plays with a high IQ @TheAthleticCBB pic.twitter.com/5nmuGxWZ7W
— Tobias Bass (@tobias_bass) October 13, 2023
Could Khamenia play significant minutes as a freshman?
It’s possible, but not guaranteed. Flagg will be gone after this season and is the expected No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Center Khaman Maluach is expected to be a one-and-done, as well, as could 6-foot-7 wing Kon Knueppel, who has garnered lottery hype from scouts who visited Duke this preseason. Graduate wings Mason Gillis and Sion James will be out of eligibility, too. So while Cam Boozer arrives and will take Flagg’s spot as Duke’s starting four man, there’s potential for Khamenia to fit alongside him, either as a bigger wing shooter or in relief.
The biggest concern with Khamenia at this point is his athleticism, or lack thereof, and how that translates on the defensive end at the highest levels of college basketball. Khamenia will most likely need to add strength to become a more capable post defender, since his foot speed on the perimeter isn’t elite.
Still, Khamenia is a significant addition for Duke, especially given how many bodies Scheyer will need to replace off the current roster. He’s not a slam-dunk starter, but he’s absolutely a player who can help the Blue Devils as a freshman — which in this era, is saying something.
Required reading
• Cameron, Cayden Boozer pick Duke over Miami, Florida: What 5-star twins bring to Blue Devils
• Cooper Flagg’s Duke debut just the beginning in season full of highly anticipated steps
(Photo of Jon Scheyer: Grant Halverson / Getty Images)
