"Guys that take defense as seriously as they do offense": Duke commit Nikolas Khamenia opens up on the kind of NBA players he models his game on

Duke recruit Nikolas Khamenia has opened up on some of the NBA players he models his game on. Khamenia said he does not have a specific player he tries to imitate but takes little things from some of his favorite players in the league.

The Harvard-Westlake power forward revealed this in an interview that premiered on the "Sloane Knows" YouTube channel on Dec 3, 2024.

“I won’t say specific but I just take basic pieces. I think guys like Luka Doncic and Jokic, who kinda play the game a little slower, Khamenia told Sloane Knows at the (00:03:28) mark.

“And defensively, Kwahi of course. I know he hasn’t played a whole bunch. Like, guys that take defense serious as they do offense,” Khamenia added.

Nikolas Khamenia is one of the top prospects in the Class of 2025, ranked 26 in ESPN’s latest top 100 ranking. The 6-foot-8 power forward already has a burgeoning profile after representing and helping the United States win gold at the FIBA U-18 Americup, averaging 7.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game

He was also part of the United States 3X3 team that won gold at the 2024 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup, winning the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award of the competition.

Nikolas Khamenia on why he chose Duke

Nikolas Khamenia announced his commitment to Duke in October via an Instagram post.

The Studio City, California native joins fellow top 35 prospects Cameron Boozer and Cayden Boozer in committing to the Blue Devils. Khamenia received offers from UCLA, Arizona, Gonzaga and North Carolina but ultimately chose Duke because of their history of developing great players.

"Duke was a place I visited and felt it was special from the moment I left campus. Coach [Jon] Scheyer believes in me and my abilities," Khamenia told ESPN. "Duke is a special place that has put out a lot of great players and ultimately helped them develop."

The 17-year-old also revealed his conversation with the Blue Devils’ coach Jon Scheyer, who was a former player at the school, influenced his decision.

"Coach Scheyer is a young coach who played at Duke, so he understands both sides of being a player there and a coach," Khamenia said. "He connects with his players on a personal level and knows how to help them grow and improve,” Khamenia added.

However, for now, Khamenia’s focus will be helping Harvard-Westlake Wolverines achieve their goal for the 2024-2025 season.