Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball Program Trolls Supposed Insider Over Huge Miss

The Duke basketball staff probably didn't view its Nikolas Khamenia win as unexpected.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball
Duke basketball / Rob Kinnan-Imagn Images
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Ahead of Nikolas Khamenia's announced decision on Tuesday, the 247Sports Crystal Ball predicted that Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer and his crew would fall to fellow finalist UCLA for the Harvard-Westlake School (Calif.) four-star forward. The Rivals FutureCast and On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine agreed.

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And so did the mysterious Trilly Donovan.

Well, they were all wrong, as Khamenia, No. 27 overall on the 247Sports 2025 Composite, wound up pledging his allegiance to Scheyer & Co. over UCLA and Gonzaga after formally eliminating previous finalists UNC and Arizona earlier this week:

The Duke basketball social media team didn't let Trilly Donovan's rare miss go unnoticed. No, not long after the 6-foot-8, 210-pound stretch-four verbally joined The Brotherhood, the Blue Devils' official account hilariously trolled via the following posted GIF in the comments under the confessed incorrect prediction:

Nikolas Khamenia is the third Duke basketball addition in the 2025 cycle. The first two, of course, are the Columbus High School (Fla.) brotherly duo in five-star power forward Cameron Boozer and five-star point guard Cayden Boozer, twin sons of 2001 Blue Devil national champ and two-time NBA All-Star bruiser Carlos Boozer.

Scheyer and his crew saw their 2025 class ranking jump to where they've finished two of the past three cycles: at No. 1 overall in the country.

ALSO READ: Former Blue Devil Forward Strikes It Rich in Atlanta

Stay tuned to Duke Blue Devils On SI for more Duke basketball news.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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