Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Duke Basketball: Predictions Stack Up Ahead of Prep's Decision

Originally posted on Duke Blue Devils on SI
By Matt Giles | Last updated Oct 22, 2024 7:16 AM ET

Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer extended an offer to Harvard-Westlake School (Calif.) senior Nikolas Khamenia in June and welcomed the top-shelf stretch-four to campus for an official visit in September. Along the way, the Blue Devils landed in the top five that Khamenia named in August, including Gonzaga, UCLA, Arizona, and archrival UNC.

Plus, Duke survived another round of cuts this week. According to a Monday report from 247Sports' Adam Finkelstein, who is set to host Khamenia's livestreamed announcement at 5:30 p.m. ET Tuesday, the 6-foot-8, 210-pound sensation is now down to a final three of Duke, UCLA, and Gonzaga.

Evidently, he's eliminated Arizona and UNC from contention.

Nikolas Khamenia, a top-20 prospect in the national class, will announce his college commitment tomorrow on the @247Sports channel. https://t.co/gMBM1ifehn pic.twitter.com/fsRYIRUC7g
— Adam Finkelstein (@AdamFinkelstein) October 21, 2024

But Scheyer and his powerhouse recruiting team have looked like longshots to land Khamenia, No. 27 overall on the 247Sports 2025 Composite, ever since Columbus High School (Fla.) five-star forward Cameron Boozer, sitting No. 2 in the cycle, and his twin brother, five-star point guard Cayden Boozer, announced their commitments to the Blue Devils on Oct. 11.

Gonzaga probably doesn't like its chances either.

No, by late Monday afternoon, within a few hours of Finkelstein revealing Khamenia's decision time, the first four predictions surfaced between the 247Sports Crystal Ball, On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine, and Rivals FutureCast. All four forecast the home-state Bruins to win the high-profile sweepstakes.