Dan Hurley, UConn Poach Former 5-Star Nikolas Khamenia From Duke

Originally posted on The Spun | By Chris Rosvoglou | Last updated Apr 18, 2026 2:17 PM ET

For the second time in the past month, UConn coach Dan Hurley has left Duke fans feeling defeated.

UConn had arguably the most thrilling win of the 2025-26 season, defeating Duke in the Elite Eight on an improbable game-winner from Braylon Mullins. His deep 3-pointer capped off a 19-point comeback for Hurley's squad.

“When I saw Braylon, and for some reason I had the gut instinct to pass it to him,” UConn star Alex Karaban said. “I looked at the rim, and there was five seconds left, and I thought maybe something better could develop. I had Cam Boozer in front of me, which was a harder, more difficult shot, so I passed it to Braylon. When I saw him release it, I was like, that really might go in.”

Mar 21, 2026; Greenville, SC, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Nikolas Khamenia (14) reacts after scoring a three point basket in the second half during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images© Bob Donnan-Imagn Images.

Although the NCAA Tournament is in the rearview mirror, Hurley isn't done tormenting Duke's basketball program.

On Saturday afternoon, Joe Tipton of On3 reported that UConn landed a commitment from Duke transfer Nikolas Khamenia.

Khamenia, a former five-star recruit from the 2025 class, confirmed his move to UConn by posting a photo of him in a Huskies uniform on Instagram.

Perfect fit for UConn?

Replacing a versatile playmaker like Alex Karaban won't be easy, but Khamenia should carve out a nice role for himself in Hurley's offense.

Even though Khamenia finished the season averaging 5.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per game for Duke, he proved during the ACC Tournament that he can elevate his game. In fact, he averaged 10.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game during the conference tournament.

It'll be interesting to see if Hurley can get the best out of Khamenia. If so, that'd give him yet another win over Jon Scheyer.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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