Former Blue Devil Nik Khamenia Reveals Shocking Portal Commitment

If there is a transfer portal move that illustrates the “pure business” world of college athletics in this NIL era, it’s this one.

Former Duke basketball wing Nikolas Khamenia has committed to UConn after entering the transfer portal. The 6’8″ wing spent one season with the Blue Devils.

Mar 29, 2026; Washington, DC, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Nikolas Khamenia (14) dribbles the ball against UConn Huskies forward Jaylin Stewart (3) in the first half during an Elite Eight game of the East Regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images | Amber Searls-Imagn Images

Nik Khamenia Commits to UConn Out of Transfer Portal

The former 5-star recruit came to Durham as part of head coach Jon Scheyer and his staff’s No. 1 overall 2025 recruiting class, featuring other stars such as Cameron Boozer, Dame Sarr, and Cayden Boozer.

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Khamenia came into college basketball regarded as one of the top three-point specialists in his recruiting class, along with boasting a high basketball IQ, the ability to guard multiple positions on the floor, and a strong passing game.

However, with the slew of talent that Scheyer and Co. brought in, it was tough for Khamenia to put his full arsenal on display. After coming into the 2025-26 college basketball season regarded as a potential first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, his stock took a big hit over his rookie campaign.

The Los Angeles native played meaningful minutes for the Blue Devils, averaging 19.8 per game, but was mainly on the court for his defensive capabilities. Across his freshman year, Khamenia averaged 5.7 points and 3.3 rebounds on 44.4% shooting from the field and 34.0% shooting from three-point range on 2.7 attempts.

Now, Khamenia is an elite talent with the potential to be a star, but it’s hard for the Blue Devil faithful to watch a former Duke player transfer over to the program that just ended Duke’s season in the most heartbreaking way possible.

Mar 21, 2026; Greenville, SC, USA;…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/former-blue-devil-nik-khamenia-181707134.html

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Publish date : 2026-04-18 18:17:00

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