2025 consensus four-star, highly skilled combo forward Nik Khamenia trimmed his college list down to five and set up three upcoming visits On3, per Joe Tipton of On3. Khamenia is considering Arizona, Duke, Gonzaga, North Carolina, and UCLA.
Khamenia has already officially visited Gonzaga and set visit dates for three of the other four finalists. He will head to Tucson for a visit with the Wildcats on August 31 and then be in Chapel Hill (NC) for a visit with the Tar Heels on September 6. The very next week, he will be back in North Carolina (September 13) in Durham.
Former Pac-12 Powerhouse Is Reportedly One of The Favorites for Highly Skilled Wing
Khamenia had a fantastic junior campaign at Harvard-Westlake (Calif.), resulting in him rocketing up the recruiting rankings. The 6-8 forward, part of Team USA’s U18 gold medal-winning team, is considered the consensus No. 28 player in the class.
Khamenia averaged 7.7 ppg, 6.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.0 blocks in 19.4 mpg for Team USA. The 17-year-old Los Angeles native struggled to shoot the whole tournament, connecting on 36.6% of his field goal attempts, though he knocked down 5 of 13 3-pointers (38.6%). He also scored in double figures twice while showing off his versatility, passing, and rebounding abilities.
All four recruiting services rate Khamenia as a four-star recruit, ranking between No. 29 and 40, with a 96.21 rating. 247 Sports has him the highest, at No. 29 in 247Sports rating, while ESPN and On3 have him at No. 31 and No. 34, respectively. Meanwhile, Rivals ranks Khamenia at No. 40 overall.
“Nik Khamenia’s skill set is what pop’s,” On3’s Jaime Shaw said, talking about Khamenia’s scouting report. “He is a quick processor with excellent passing touch from different levels on the floor. He can move the ball around off a live dribble or set up in the half-court. Khamenia is a smooth shooter off the catch and has deep range when stepping into shots from three. The balance points can get a little off when shooting off movement. The question here will be the athleticism. He can struggle finishing at the rim and there will be defensive questions. He has excellent feel and understands rotations and positioning very well. Great off ball anticipation. He rebounds his area. An ultimate competitor. Toughness. He’s vocal.”
Nik Khamenia Recruiting
Khamenia holds 27 scholarship offers. In October, he took an official trip to Gonzaga. While NCAA rules forbid him from taking another official trip to the Spokane (WA.) campus, he can visit the Bulldogs unofficially.
As mentioned above, Khemenia has scheduled official visits to Arizona, UNC, and Duke. UCLA could also receive an official, but none is currently planned.
Here is a breakdown of Khamenia’s final five schools and his thoughts, per Joe Tipton of On3:
Arizona Wildcats
Arizona is one of the latest schools to get “on board” with Khamenia. The Wildcats offered him on June 19, but he played for Zona head coach Tommy Lloyd with the USA U18 squad.
“Got to build a good relationship with their staff, being on the U18 USA team I feel like I got a good feel for how Coach Lloyd likes to use guys with my skill. He wasn’t the only one that had been on the USA staff so I got a solid feel for the people that they have there which made me very comfortable with their staff and approach. They see me as a guy that they could use to their advantage and run offense through with my versatile play.”
Arizona does not have a commitment from 2025.
Duke Blue Devils
Duke is the last team to offer Khamenia, doing so on June 29.
“Have been able to build a very good relationship with their staff, talking to them pretty often almost every other day. I have talked to coach [Jon] Scheyer a lot and we have discussed what he sees out of me and how his program can help me develop and vise versa how he sees me being able to help them win more games and be a perfect fit in their culture. He has been straight up with me about everything and things he thinks I need to get better at as well.”
The Blue Devils do not have a commitment from 2025.
Gonzaga Bulldogs
Gonzaga is one of the two finalists to be in on Khamenia the longest. The Bulldogs offered him June 2023, and he officially visited in October. He also was on Gonzaga’s campus on an unofficial visit in 2022. Both visits were for Kraziness in the Kennel events
“Have a relationship with the staff for quite a while as they been recruiting me since I was a sophmore. Another program that has a very good feel for the way I play my game and see me as a guy that could help their program out a ton. They do a really good job in their development as well and continue to help guys get better. Another place that values culture and winning like the others which is why these schools have really made my list.”
4-Star guard Davis Fogle committed to Gonzaga on July 5. The Bulldogs also remains in the mix for five-star recruit Isiah Harwell, who’ll announce his decision on September 12, and top 10 small forward Jalen Haralson.
North Carolina Tar Heels
UNC offered Khamenia this past May.
Have been able to build a great relationship with their staff as well. Talking to Coach [Hubert] Davis a ton as well as well as coach Frederick. They started recruiting me earlier in my junior season. Got to build a good relationship with coach [Sean] May early on in the process. They love my versatility and the way I play the game and see my as a guy that could thrive in their system and grow my game.”
The Tar Heels have yet to secure a commitment from 2025.
UCLA Bruins
UCLA was the fourth school to offer Khamenia on April 14, 2023. He has been to UCLA for a couple of unofficial visits.
“Have been able to have a good relationship with their staff as well. Right over the hill from my high school so they have been to a lot of games and practices. They have a good feel for the way I play a game and see that I am very skillful and also love to get my nose on the ball on the defensive end. Been there a couple of times for unofficial visits and have a good feel for their system and their culture.”
Ranking Khamenia’s Five Schools
While Khamenia’s recruiting could be close to winding down, things could change in his recruits. But right now, I would put Arizona as the leader. Gonzaga and UNC are second and third; the order could switch. UCLA is fourth, followed by Duke.
The following is what Shaw said he is hearing:
I am told that Khamenia has upcoming visits set to Arizona and UNC. These are the two schools sources close to the recruitment have told me to watch for at this point. Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd coached Khamenia this summer when they won gold with the USA Basketball U18 team.
In speaking with sources around the recruitment, I am told that Khamenia sees the role with UNC. He understands, I am told, that with head coach Hubert Davis’ system there are a lot of parallels with the Brady Manek / Harrison Ingram role and Khamenia’s game.
Sources also tell me to not sleep on Gonzaga here. While I am told UNC and Arizona are building momentum, that Gonzaga is still very much in the mix.
