No. 4 UConn will be without starting forward Nik Khamenia indefinitely after the Duke transfer suffered a left foot injury that requires surgery.
Coach Dan Hurley announced Thursday that Khamenia will undergo the procedure soon. The sophomore will be reevaluated in six to eight weeks after surgery, which leaves his return date uncertain.
“Nik will have surgery in the coming days and is expected to make a full recovery,” Hurley said.
Khamenia was injured during the first half of Monday’s 83-41 victory over Wagner and did not return. He scored 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting, including three 3-pointers, in less than seven minutes before leaving.
The 6-foot-8 forward started all three games for UConn (3-0) after transferring from Duke during the offseason. The 2025 McDonald’s All-American ranks third on the Huskies with 10.7 points per game while shooting a team-best 61.9% from the field and 54.5% from 3-point range.
His absence comes as UConn enters the toughest stretch of its nonconference schedule. The Huskies host Ohio State on Friday in Hartford before visiting No. 12 Arizona and meeting No. 2 Duke in Las Vegas. Games against No. 3 Illinois, No. 15 Kansas and No. 6 Virginia follow in December.
Freshman Colben Landrew, who replaced Khamenia to start the second half against Wagner, is expected to take on a larger role and could move into the starting lineup. Landrew has averaged 10.0 points and 4.7 rebounds in 22.3 minutes off the bench. Freshman forward Egor Amosov (3.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg) is also expected to see increased playing time.