Duke 's UConn nightmare has continued into the transfer portal.
The Blue Devils ' Nikolas Khamenia announced on social media Saturday that he's transferring to the fellow blue blood program, simply stating "committed" alongside him in a Huskies uniform.
The rising sophomore averaged 5.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and one assist per game on 44.4 percent from the floor and 34 percent from 3-point range in 38 games last season.
Khamenia took on a larger role in Duke's biggest games of the year, playing in at least 22 minutes in six of the Blue Devils' seven ACC and NCAA Tournament games.
In the ACC Tournament semifinal against Clemson , Khamenia had perhaps his best game of the season, dropping 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting and 3-of-6 from deep with six rebounds in 31 minutes en route to the Blue Devils victory.
Khamenia was a top-20 recruit in the 2025 high school class.
He is likely to replace Alex Karaban , who is expected to be a second-round pick after playing four years at UConn, in the Huskies' rotation.
Nikolas Khamenia of the Duke Blue Devils reacts during the second half against the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 21, 2026 in Greenville, South Carolina. Getty Images
The Khamenia addition will also soften the blow of losing Tarris Reed Jr. , who is also expected to have his name called in June's NBA draft, and Eric Reibe , who entered the transfer portal earlier this month.
The move comes less than a month after UConn broke the hearts of Duke fans during an Elite Eight thriller with a last-second miracle shot from Braylon Mullins after a furious Huskies comeback.
UConn would make it all the way to the national championship game before falling to Michigan .
Both programs are expected to be among the best in college basketball once again during the 2026-27 season.
