Arizona Targets Top Transfer Portal Forward Nik Khamenia

Wildcats look to land former Duke player who previously visited Tucson.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 10:00am

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Arizona is pursuing Nikolas Khamenia, a 6-foot-8 forward who recently entered the transfer portal after playing his freshman season at Duke. Khamenia was previously recruited by Arizona out of high school and visited the Tucson campus, making him a prime target for the Wildcats as they look to rebuild their roster after a historic season.

Why it matters

Arizona is facing significant roster turnover after winning the most games in a single season in program history. Head coach Tommy Lloyd is looking to reload through the transfer portal, and landing a talented player like Khamenia would be a major boost as the Wildcats aim for another deep NCAA Tournament run.

The details

Khamenia averaged 5.7 points per game while playing nearly 20 minutes per night for Duke as a freshman. Though his minutes were up and down, the fact that he earned consistent playing time under Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer suggests he has the trust and confidence of his coaches. Arizona previously recruited Khamenia out of high school, and he visited Tucson before ultimately choosing Duke.

  • Khamenia entered the transfer portal in April 2026.
  • Arizona previously recruited Khamenia and he visited Tucson in August prior to his freshman season at Duke.

The players

Nikolas Khamenia

A 6-foot-8 forward who played his freshman season at Duke, averaging 5.7 points per game. Khamenia was previously recruited by Arizona out of high school and visited the Tucson campus before ultimately choosing the Blue Devils.

Tommy Lloyd

The head coach of the Arizona Wildcats, who is looking to reload his roster through the transfer portal after a historic season that saw the team win the most games in a single season in program history.

Jon Scheyer

The head coach of the Duke Blue Devils, who gave Khamenia consistent playing time as a freshman, suggesting he has the trust and confidence of his coaches.

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What’s next

Arizona is expected to schedule an official visit with Khamenia in the coming days, as the Wildcats look to land the talented transfer forward. The team has another official visit scheduled with Jackson Shelstad, so adding Khamenia to the mix would be a major boost for Tommy Lloyd's roster rebuild.

The takeaway

Khamenia's previous recruitment by Arizona and his strong freshman season at Duke make him a prime target for the Wildcats as they look to reload through the transfer portal. Landing a player of Khamenia's caliber would be a significant coup for Tommy Lloyd and could help Arizona maintain its status as one of the top programs in the country.