Boys’ basketball forward Nikolas Khamenia ’25 announced his commitment to Duke University on Oct. 22. Throughout his high school career, Khamenia averaged 19.8 points per game on 20 minutes played per game. Khamenia accumulated offers from several schools, including Purdue, Tennessee, Illinois, Oregon, Ohio State, Stanford and Michigan. Khamenia ultimately chose Duke over Gonzaga and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
In an interview with 247Sports, Khamenia said his basketball career to this point has been a “journey”.
“I’ve worked every single day for the last four years, and even before that,” Khamenia said. “I’ve had a great support system with me. I just stayed in the gym. I didn’t look at no rank- ings. I just believed in myself.”
Khamenia said when making his decision, he wanted to go somewhere where he could feel comfortable and grow on and off the court.
“I am looking for a school that I can call my second home, a place I am going to go and grow on and off the court as a person and a basketball player,” Khamenia said. “Narrowing down my list was hard in itself, and ultimately I chose the places I had the best relationships with the coaches and felt comfortable in their plans for me.”
Khamenia’s stock as a recruit rose significantly during the summer, when he accumulated the majority of his offers. The forward won two gold medals over the summer, winning the AmeriCup in Buenos Aires and the 3X3 World Cup in Debrecen, Hungary. In addition, Khamenia won the PRO16 league with BTI, awarded MVP honors for his performance.
Khamenia said he was excited to receive his first offers, as it is a dream of his to play basketball at a Division 1 school.
“Starting off the process of getting recruited was one of the most fulfilling moments of my career up to this point,”
Khamenia said. “Having college offers was something Ialways dreamed of and I was blessed to see my hard work paying off.” Khamenia said going on official visits gave him a clearer picture of team dynamics at each program.
“I got to hang out with everyone and see the chemistry between the teams,” Khamenia said. “It definitely helped me get a feel for where I’d fit in. The process of coming to the decision has been very interesting, with a lot of thought going into it, a lot of meetings with college staff coming to campus and talking to me and trying to figure out ultimately where I’ll take my next step.”
At UCLA, Khamenia said he saw Pauley Pavilion and met with head coach Mick Cronin, who shared his vision for Khamenia’s potential role in the Bruins’ lineup, that currently includes former boys’ basketball guards Trent Perry ’24 and Christian Horry ’24. After a practice session and a tour of the athletic facilities, he sat down with academic advisors to discuss balancing academics and athletics.
Khamenia said his visit to UNC Chapel Hill (UNC) gave him a strong sense of what life as a Tar Heel would be like. Touring the Dean Smith Center, Khamenia said he had the chance to meet with head coach Hubert Davis, where they discussed his potential role in the team’s offense. He then observed a practice, gaining insight into UNC’s playing style. When he visited Duke, Khamenia said the Duke community made him feel very welcomed during his visits to the school.
“While going on my visits, it just felt like a home.” Khamenia said, “Just being able to play with those guys, seeing them practice and being there for two days, it just felt like the place for me.”
With Khamenia committing to the Blue Devils alongside top recruits Cameron and Cayden Boozer, Duke continues to show their recruiting strength, previously landing notable players like Cooper Flagg, Isaiah Evans and Khaman Maluach.
Khamenia said if he were to give advice to young athletes trying to begin the commitment process, it would be to make sure to enjoy things along the way and be grateful for any help they can get.
“Enjoy the process and continue to work because as fast as all the success can come it can go even faster,” Khamenia said. “Be appreciative of the ones that helped you get to that point. Be proud of yourself and maintain humility to always want to get better.”
Khamenia and the boys’ basketball team will begin their search for a third consecutive state championship this winter season on Nov. 19.
