This September, Duke and UNC basketball programs are set to go head-to-head in the recruitment of a top California prospect, with both schools hosting him on back-to-back weekends.
Nikolas Khamenia, a standout from Harvard-Westlake School in California, has narrowed his college choices down to a final five, cutting out more than a dozen other contenders. The Duke basketball staff, despite joining the race later with an offer in late June, made the cut and secured an official visit from the four-star stretch-four on Friday afternoon.
In addition to Duke, Khamenia is considering Arizona, UCLA, Gonzaga, and UNC. At 6-foot-8 and 210 pounds, the versatile forward will either stay on the West Coast or head to one of the powerhouse programs on Tobacco Road for his college career.
The recruitment battle between Duke and UNC has intensified, as Khamenia revealed to League Ready that his final three official visits include both the Tar Heels and the Blue Devils. Khamenia, ranked No. 27 overall on the 247Sports 2025 Composite, is scheduled to visit Arizona starting on August 31. He will then spend the first weekend of September at UNC before heading to Duke the following weekend.
To date, his only official visit was to Gonzaga last October.
Neither Duke nor UNC has yet secured a commitment in their 2025 recruiting efforts, adding even more significance to Khamenia’s decision.
Stay updated with the latest Duke basketball news, including national predictions for the 2024-25 starting lineup and forecasts for Duke rookies in the 2025 NBA Draft.
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