USA U19 Wins Gold, Duke Commit Khamenia Stars, Serbia's Kostic Leads Comeback

Nikolas Khamenia, a Duke Blue Devils commit, played a pivotal role in Team USA's gold medal victory at the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup in Switzerland, showcasing his versatility and efficiency with averages near 10 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists per game. Khamenia, who also earned MVP honors at the 2024 FIBA 3x3 U18 Men’s World Cup and contributed to USA’s gold at the 2024 FIBA Men’s U18 AmeriCup, impressed with his defense, shooting, and playmaking, becoming the first Duke player on the U19 team since Cam Reddish in 2019. Meanwhile, Kansas State commit Andrej Kostic led Serbia to a dramatic comeback win against Argentina, scoring 25 points and shooting 50% from three-point range, signaling promise for his upcoming college season. The U.S. team, coached by Arizona's Tommy Lloyd, went undefeated en route to the final against Germany, with other notable players including Louisville's Mikel Brown Jr., Kentucky's Jasper Johnson, and top recruit Tyran Stokes. The gold medal game, streamed on FIBA's YouTube channel, highlighted the strength of the U.S. youth basketball program and its promising future talent. Khamenia's strong international performances bode well for his integration into Duke's highly ranked 2025 recruiting class.