It's becoming very evident the Duke Blue Devils will have to shake up their roster for the 2026-27 season.
Despite owning a 35-3 record, Duke's season will be remembered for its loss to UConn in the Elite Eight. Not only did the Blue Devils squander a 19-point lead, they found themselves on the wrong side of one of the most iconic game-winners in recent memory. After UConn's defense forced Cayden Boozer into a turnover, Braylon Mullins drilled a deep 3-pointer to give his team a 73-72 victory.
"It's easy to look at that play. I look at every play that happened, especially in that second half. This is not about one play," Duke coach Jon Scheyer said. "It's about every play that put us in that position, and that's what you don't want to do, where one play something could happen."
While there's no question Scheyer will replenish his roster with talent for next season, it's being reported that one of his top recruits from 2025 will hit the transfer portal this offseason.
© Bob Donnan-Imagn Images.
According to ESPN's Jeff Borzello, the Blue Devils are expected to lose freshman Nikolas Khamenia to the transfer portal.
Khamenia, the No. 15 overall recruit from the 2025 class, averaged 5.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per game for the Blue Devils this season. He stepped up when his number was called during the ACC Tournament, averaging 10.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per contest.
Where will Nikolas Khamenia go?
It's too early to determine which team will land Khamenia for the 2026-27 season, but it's worth noting that he had four visits during his initial recruitment process.
Khamenia met with Arizona, North Carolina and UCLA before taking his talents to Duke.
Maybe we'll see Michael Malone and North Carolina pursue Khamenia in the transfer portal. That would certainly add fuel to the school's rivalry with Duke.
