Blue Devil Country

West Coast Recruit Pits Duke Basketball Against UNC in September

The Duke basketball coaches and their UNC basketball counterparts will host a premier California prep on back-to-back weekends.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer versus UNC
Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer versus UNC / Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
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As promised this week, Nikolas Khamenia is down to a final five after eliminating over a dozen suitors from contention. Not only did the Duke basketball staff advance to the next stage of the Harvard-Westlake School (Calif.) four-star stretch-four's recruitment on Friday afternoon, but Jon Scheyer and his crew also secured an official visit. And that's despite being relatively new to the race, as the Blue Devils extended an offer in late June.

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In addition to Duke, Khamenia is still considering Arizona, UCLA, Gonzaga, and the Blue Devils' archnemesis, UNC. So, the 6-foot-8, 210-pound versatile talent will either remain on the West Coast next year or play his college ball for one of the rival bluebloods on Tobacco Road.

Adding to the suddenly heightened Duke vs. UNC intrigue in the Nikolas Khamenia sweepstakes, he told League Ready that, for now, the Tar Heels and Blue Devils mark the last two of three official visits currently appearing in ink on his calendar.

Khamenia, No. 27 overall on the 247Sports 2025 Composite, will check out Arizona beginning on Aug. 31 before heading to UNC the first weekend of September and touring the Duke basketball program the following weekend.

His only official visit to date was to Gonzaga last October.

Neither Duke nor UNC has picked up its first pledge in the 2025 recruiting arena.

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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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