December 3, 2024 • 27 mins
Welcome to another episode of SloaneKnows: NEXT, where Sloane speaks with the future NBA stars of tomorrow. Nikolas Khamenia is a Duke Basketball commit, who’s a 2025 top-five recruit from the state of California. With offers from UCLA, North Carolina, Gonzaga among other schools, Nik talks about his intention to play for Duke, his San Antonio Spurs fandom, his thoughts on Victor Wembanyama and Chris Paul, what he’s learned from years on the AAU circuit, who he models his own hoops game after, and much more. #Volume #Draymond
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
The volume.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
I'm Slow and this is Sloane nos Next. We sit
down with the future stars of tomorrow. Today's guest is
Nick Kamenya, a four star recruit who recently just committed
to Duke University. His journey of winning back to back
state titled with Harvard west Lake to winning a gold
medal with Team USA and his dreams of playing in
(00:28):
the NBA is a story you won't want to miss,
all right, Nick, So this is an episode of Sloane
nos Next. And for those who haven't gotten the privileged
to know a little bit about your game yet, would
you mind telling us your age, your name, where you
play basketball, and where you're going to play in college.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (00:51):
I'm Nick Kmenya. I'm seventeen years old's twenty twenty five.
I go to Harvard west Lake and next year I'll
be at Duke.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Congrats that's a big time Nick just committed, very excited.
It's really cool to have him on. How old were
you when you started to play basketball?
Speaker 4 (01:05):
Really ever since? I can remember just going to my
dad's practices. So shoot, I think I really started picking
it up when I was five six, okay, just dribbling
around shooting.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
Yeah, were you always taller than the other kids?
Speaker 4 (01:17):
Yeah, all the time, all the time.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
How tall is your dad six eight and your mom
six foot? Wow? So you have tall gen didn't im
assuming you guys are a basketball family.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
Yeah, yeah, both my parents played okay in college. Yeah,
my mom went to a Juco in Florida and my
dad played at George Washington.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Oh wow, okay, cool, so it runs it's in your
blood when you were growing up. Did you play any
other sports or it was always just basketball?
Speaker 3 (01:40):
No?
Speaker 4 (01:41):
Literally, it was basketball, basketball, basketball the whole time.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
Oh wait, so that's in your blood.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
Lockdown.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Other than your parents, who was a you know, basketball
idol for you growing up?
Speaker 4 (01:53):
I mean I grew up watching a lot of basketbats
just on the TV, just waking up and turning it on.
It wasn't a time of Disney Channel and never Yeah,
it was none of that. I watched a lot of
the Lakers.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (02:06):
But I love the Spurs a lot growing up, especially
when I first started understanding basketball. They were like the
team so like there.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
Was no connection to San Antonio. You just like like
their style of play.
Speaker 4 (02:14):
Yeah, they were just the best team when you grow up. Yeah,
So like I kind of hopped in that bandwagon. Kawhi
Leonard was like my favorite player.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Yeah, so you still a first fan? Yeah, we Yeah.
What do you think about Chris Paul joining the Spurs?
Speaker 4 (02:28):
I mean he was at he was at the JT
camp when I was there as well, and I know
his son, So I mean, Chris Paul, he's a good player,
he's a good point guard. I mean he's already helped
the Spurs so much he's being there.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
So yeah, it's cool to see.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
So I got the chance to interview you at Jason
Tatum camp, like you just touched on, which is pretty
cool that at seventeen, you've already had experiences where you've
gotten to meet and play with NBA players. But I'm
curious who was the first NBA player you ever met?
Speaker 4 (02:55):
First NBA player I ever met? That's a good question,
thank you. Uh oh, I mean my godfather used to
be in the NBA.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
Okay, that's that's one, my.
Speaker 4 (03:08):
Godfather, Slava Medvedenko. Yeah, he's probably the first. But I
mean I went to Kobe's Jersey retirement and I met
so many NBA players at that time, Mat Kobe that night,
Magic Johnson, James Worthy, Uh, Kareem.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
Wow. Yeah, night that night was that's crazy.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
Yeah, that was the best one.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
Is there a specific NBA player that you model your
game after.
Speaker 4 (03:33):
I wouldn't say specific, but I just take bits and pieces.
I think guys like Luka, Doncic and Jokic who kind
of played the game a little slower and then defensively
like Kauhi. Of course, I know he hasn't played a
whole bunch, but yeah, like guys that take defense as
seriously as they do offense. Try to model my game
after that.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Yeah, I like that mentality. Are there any comps that
you've gotten, player comps that you've really liked?
Speaker 4 (03:57):
I mean I've heard Luca a couple of times. I mean,
that's that's a good one to here scary. Yeah, but
I mean I like take it as a compliment that
But at the same time, I just think I'm different
than a lot of people. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
So yeah, yeah, it's important to differentiate yourself. I feel
like that a lot.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
What has been your most memorable basketball moment so far
in your life?
Speaker 4 (04:17):
Most memorable? Uh, I'd probably say man won a lot
of championships, so probably my first day championship. I felt
like that was probably the best one, just because freshman
year I didn't get a ton of playing time.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
Yeah, you're a freshman on varsity.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
Yeah, okay, So I mean losing my freshman year and
then working that whole summer, spring, fall, even and then
coming into the playoffs we started off a little rocky,
but then beating Centennial, who was like the team at
the time, and then winning that first day championship for
the school as an open vision was cool. That was
probably the best.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
That's special.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Who have been the you know, top three best players
that you played with so far in either high school or.
Speaker 4 (05:01):
A top three players? Uh? Probably go Trent Perry for sure.
Oh man, I played with a lot of good ones
in the top five.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
If you want, you can say as money as you want,
I want to hear top ten, but I'm just go
for it.
Speaker 4 (05:19):
Might as well, Yeah, I probably go Trent, Robert Brady, Shoe,
Zay Johnson on my AU team, Peyton White, who else?
Who else? Was not trying to miss nobody? Robert Hinton,
I say.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Robert already, No, I don't think you said him.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
Robert Hinton, Jacob Huggins was good man. Everybody I played with.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Everyone, Okay, everyone give a shout out to everyone. All right, So,
what is the biggest difference is that you've seen between
playing A you and high school? Because they're they're different games,
you know, it's not the same thing.
Speaker 4 (05:51):
I feel like AU you kind of learned how to
play extremely tired you're playing.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
How many games do you play today?
Speaker 4 (06:00):
I mean like sometimes two, sometimes one, but it can
be like four in one weekend, which gets super tough
a lot. But I mean, I just say high school
is way more organized. You got a better feel for
teams that you're playing against. You got a better feel
for the teammates that you're playing with. In AU, you
can only practice so much with everybody being there. But yeah,
(06:23):
I mean it's it's it's a pretty big difference. But
I've been looking lucky enough to play on AU team
where we've had the same guys. Yeah, yeah, So I
mean building chemistry with them and working out with them
all the time.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
Like, do you prefer A you or high school or
it's the same for you?
Speaker 4 (06:40):
No, I prefer high school for sure, just because you
can prepare way more than you can for AU.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
And I'm assuming going to school with those guys you
can create like more of a special.
Speaker 4 (06:50):
Yeah, and it helps a lot. Like chemistry is such
a big piece of bath wall that people don't understand,
Like people bring in transfer its like it's season. It's
hard to play together at that point. But if you
have a whole season to build something, then forward the
end of the season, you guys are gonna be really good.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
I mean you could call Harvard Westlake where you go
at this point, almost like a high school powerhouse. Right,
winning so many state championships in the past couple of years,
what do you think has been the key to your guys' success?
Speaker 4 (07:17):
I mean exactly that, Like we've brought in two transfers
in however many years that coach Wilbo has been there. Yeah,
and I mean we have really good coaching staff.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (07:27):
Who uh, they don't let us just do whatever. It
don't matter who you are, what kind of player you are.
And I mean we're just literally just a brotherhood, like
we just put were together all the time at school,
Like yeah, we'll be in a big circle like in
the middle of the quad just talk exactly. We're just
a family there. Uh. And I don't a lot of
people a lot of places say they have that, but
(07:48):
only so many people act like it.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
So yeah, yeah, that's great. Okay.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
So you know, obviously, like we said earlier, committed to
Duke and you've had some pretty amazing.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Offers as well. What is what was it like?
Speaker 2 (07:58):
You know, when you were playing in it their AE
or high school and you look over in the side
and you see these guys sitting there in the Duke
Cats and zagahats and you're like, oh my gosh, like
these scouts are there for me.
Speaker 4 (08:09):
I mean it's just different. Like you grow up thinking
about that kind of stuff, but yeah, you dream about it,
but you never really think it's possible. You just work
for it, not thinking anything of it. But when it
really starts to happen, you're like, oh, shoot, like koch
Shi are really sitting right there watch my game right now?
Like mm hmm, it really hits you, Like yeah, man,
like these people really want me to come and play
for them, like you only dream about playing at places
(08:31):
like Duke.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (08:32):
Just I mean four years ago, I was probably watching
the mal Invitational Zion R. J. Berry.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
It is like, now that's gonna get it.
Speaker 4 (08:39):
Yeah, you wouldn't even think about that, but I mean
now having that shoot not even having the opportunity, but
gonna go being committed there. Yeah, that's it's really cool.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
We talked about this a little bit before we started filming,
but I want to touch on it again. Whereas you know,
I'm obviously not a D one basketball player like you are,
but I was gonna say, if I was in your shoes,
I feel like, if I got that do Golfer, I'd
be like, that's it, that's the one I'm going there.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
What was that process like for you?
Speaker 4 (09:07):
I mean, I feel like recruiting it starts like right
before I think junior, like when they can start calling
you and whatnot. Yeah, so it's a really long process
of phone calls and messages and meetings and visits. It
takes a lot out of you, but it's also fun
(09:28):
and it's a blessing that not a lot of people
can experience. So you take the good and you appreciate
that way more than you do the bad in the
negative side of it. But I mean, it's super fun
to be recruited. Yeah, And ultimately, like I said earlier,
it's a dream and you work for it every single day.
So it was super cool And obviously it was a blessing,
but you can only really choose one school.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
So yeah, for you, it has a video and I
feel like for you, you know, I've I realized this with
your Instagram. It was like all of a sudden, all
these offers were pouring it, pouring it and pouring it.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
How are you able to stay humble, stay grounded when
you sort of your stock rose that much?
Speaker 4 (10:03):
I mean I really just think it's my parents in
just the base that they installed in me. Yea, ever
since I was young. Shoot, my dad told me today,
as soon as you think you've made it, that's when
you start to fall off.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
Wow.
Speaker 4 (10:16):
So yeah, you just always got to keep working like
it don't matter. It don't matter where you are at
that certain point one second, it can all be taken
away for a mistake, for anything you start working hard.
So ultimately, my dream is to be in the NBA,
So I'm not going to start working until I get there.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Yeah, and this sort of ties into that as well.
How have you been able to balance being a student
and an athlete?
Speaker 4 (10:39):
I mean, yeah, especially at Harvard Westley.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
Yeah, I was gonna say that's hard, Yeah.
Speaker 4 (10:43):
But I mean you kind of get used to it.
But I mean you have to help from people and
you just have to sacrifice a lot.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (10:51):
Some weekends, yeah you might just be sitting at home
doing homework or just going to the gym and then
going back home to do homework. But I mean you
learn how to do it.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
Yeah. I mean it's good experience because like eventually.
Speaker 4 (11:03):
For the next level. Yeah, ultimately.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
One und So, if I want to go watch Harvard
Westlake play this year, what game would you suggest me
or anyone listening goes to.
Speaker 4 (11:13):
I mean, sure you can go to all of them. Uh,
the most fun I'll probably say I've had the most
fun playing in playoffs. Yeah, but in season, the league
is always fun. Every single game is always fun. This
year we got to play at the end of a dome,
which is gonna be super cool. So cool. Yeah, have
you been there yet? No? I haven't.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
I haven't either. I want to go so badly. And
you know, there's all the high school jerseys hung up
on the wall from every single high school in California
or in Los Angeles.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
That it's insane. That's crazy senior jersey up there.
Speaker 4 (11:43):
Cool, that would be fine, that'd be fine.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
So we touched on a little bit about your high
school teammates. You know, Trent Perry who goes to UCLA
and Robert Hinton who goes to Harvard and has been
going off at Harvard, which has been.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
Cool to see. What was it like for you to
a play with them?
Speaker 2 (11:58):
And then how have they helped you sort of you know,
navigate your senior year and commitment and all of that.
Speaker 4 (12:04):
I mean, I still I think I texted Trent and
Robert yesterday because I know Trent played a good mind
minus yesterday he did pretty solid. And Robert, of course,
I think he just had back to back twenty five
plus games. B I mean being able to play with
those guys, like when you're in high school, they're just
like your friends, like just regular guys, and then they're
going off the big time D one schools and they're
(12:27):
doing what they're doing. But I mean, I've learned a
lot of things from the seniors in my past, and
I've taken that into my senior year. So yeah, I mean,
there always good guys to text and call whenever I
need something.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
Yeah, and talking about big times he wont schools. I
want to like really get into Duke for a little
bit here. How do you think your game fits in
with Duke's playing style, especially with the Boozer Twins coming in.
Speaker 4 (12:51):
I mean, I think they just have a lot of
versatile guys, and I think I'm literally just like that.
Just being able to shoot, being able to pass, dribble,
I mean yeah, I mean they played super hardy, they're
super positive energy wise. I feel like I can do
just that. I try to practice that every single day
at Harvard West like right now. Yeah, talking to my
(13:12):
teammates about the whole practice, talking on the court the
entire time. Just really just preparing myself for next year.
And I really see myself being a part of that.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
Brother, Yeah for sure.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
And can you walk us through your official visit? I
love hearing about official visits. What was your favorite part
of Durham Any good food?
Speaker 3 (13:29):
Like?
Speaker 1 (13:29):
What was that like?
Speaker 4 (13:30):
No, my favorite part was actually when I got to
play with them. Yeah, so we had did some runs
and I got to play with Spencer Harberd, who actually
went to Harvard Westlake I think two years or a
year before I went there. Yeah, So, I mean it
was just super fun getting up and down in there.
And I mean Durham is a's a really nice place.
It's pretty quiet, but you can tell that people really
(13:52):
love Duke. Ye, you can really tell that. But yeah,
I mean it was super fun. Playing with them was
super fun. The meetings were good. Food was good too.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
I've been to the Duke Dining Hall.
Speaker 4 (14:03):
The Duke Dining Hall. Yeah, that's what a lot of people.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
Talking about and ma big back activities.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
But that was my favorite part when I at what
is one thing that you want the Cameron crazies, which is,
you know, Duke's fan base to know about you.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
Nick Kmena, I.
Speaker 4 (14:16):
Mean, I'm gonna come in. I'm gonna give him my hall.
I like to label myself as this guy that just
likes to win. Yeah, that's about it.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
Like I think they're gonna like that they like to win.
Can you give us your Duke all time? Starting five.
I'm putting you on the spot here. I know you
like to include a lot of people, but we need
to be strict here and go with a five.
Speaker 4 (14:40):
Top five. I'm gonna go Shire at.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
The one, Wow the coach, Okay.
Speaker 4 (14:47):
JJ Ready at the two, Jason Tatum at the three,
Christian Lander at the five, just because of how good
he did at Duke. I'll actually move Jayson Tatum down
before and I'll go Grant Hill at the three.
Speaker 1 (15:02):
You're leaving out a lot of pretty good Duke players.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
Huh, Kyrie, you know, I mean there's so many Barritt
but okay.
Speaker 4 (15:11):
JJ Reddick, what he did at Duke was different. Grant
Hill won a national championship. Christian Laner win national championship.
Jason Tatums, Jason Tatum, Koch my head coach.
Speaker 1 (15:22):
Julil okafor love, Like, come on, you know.
Speaker 4 (15:24):
There's just there's just so many going on there.
Speaker 2 (15:27):
Yeah, all right, So I want to move on now
to a little rapid fire section. So we got to
go fast and ask you some questions really to get
to know you. So this is where the camera crazy
is out there. Really to get to know do commit
m it command yet?
Speaker 1 (15:39):
Okay? What is one aspect of your game that you're
most proud of? And why?
Speaker 4 (15:43):
Passing? I think it's just different. I can make a
lot of no look passes behind the back pass. Yeah,
I like that.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
What is your favorite school subject? None?
Speaker 4 (15:54):
Math?
Speaker 1 (15:55):
Really?
Speaker 4 (15:55):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (15:56):
I hate math? I like history better.
Speaker 4 (16:00):
A fan?
Speaker 3 (16:00):
No?
Speaker 1 (16:00):
Really, are you good at math? Or you just like?
Speaker 2 (16:03):
What?
Speaker 4 (16:04):
Ma? Are you win calculus? Wow?
Speaker 2 (16:06):
Okay, I'm in pre Calcary now. It's horrible. I just
failed another test. It's really bad.
Speaker 1 (16:10):
I hate it. In the next five years, who is
going to be the face of the NBA and why.
Speaker 4 (16:14):
Next five years? Jason Tatum? He just won a national,
not national champion, he just won an NBA championship. Celsa's
are good. He's the best player on that team.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
They see who is an NBA player that is your
dream to share the court with them?
Speaker 4 (16:34):
I feel like Jokic, you just make everybody better.
Speaker 1 (16:37):
You want to be a nugget.
Speaker 4 (16:38):
That'd be cool.
Speaker 1 (16:39):
I like that. Who is your dream NBA player to
play against.
Speaker 4 (16:43):
Lebron?
Speaker 2 (16:45):
Have you Lebron played against each other on this wonderful
Phoenix Melbourne court.
Speaker 1 (16:51):
Who do you think would win? And what do you
think the score would be?
Speaker 4 (16:54):
Lebron will for sure win. I'm not even gonna lie.
Speaker 1 (16:58):
Like that.
Speaker 4 (16:58):
Eleven eleven m I score ones and twos?
Speaker 1 (17:05):
Sure?
Speaker 4 (17:06):
Five points?
Speaker 1 (17:07):
Wow?
Speaker 4 (17:08):
Five eleven, that's confident.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
I like it. How many points you think I would
score if we one v one right now?
Speaker 4 (17:16):
Zero?
Speaker 1 (17:16):
Well, you don't even know. I could be like so good?
Speaker 2 (17:20):
Really, no, I think because I'm gonna like I'm I'm
like really shifty and I'm a really good defender. So
I just like swatted out of your hands and then
just like pull up and like I can do a
little granny.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
I'm really good at those. Like when you do it
like that's the way.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
No, I'm telling you, like that's the thing. It's like
it's a different type of game, but I'm telling you,
like I'm gonna be you.
Speaker 1 (17:39):
What is your favorite clothing brand?
Speaker 3 (17:42):
Essential is nice? Probably Essential, shout out excel toect.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
You like your agencies, it's not really a brand, but
you're aware. What is your go to cheat meal?
Speaker 4 (17:54):
Go to cheat meal? I got a lot of those.
I like pizza. I like sushi.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
Yeah, it's sushi really a cheap man. I feel like
that's like not that unhealthy.
Speaker 4 (18:04):
Then I probably say like an in and out burger.
Speaker 1 (18:06):
What's your favorite sushi restaurant in La.
Speaker 4 (18:10):
Dude? There are some goings. There's I he in Studio City.
There's a.
Speaker 1 (18:16):
Like Spicy you know, Krispy Rice.
Speaker 4 (18:18):
I mean I don't really do tuna like that.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
Okay, No, that's like my I like I love sushi,
but I'm also a fake sushi person, Like I'm like oh,
I love.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
Sushi's my favorite food.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
And then I get like cucumber cut roll and like
at a moment, yeah, I'm fake.
Speaker 1 (18:31):
What is your favorite fast food restaurant?
Speaker 4 (18:39):
I'll go In and Out?
Speaker 2 (18:41):
La boy, Yes, same. I feel like In and OU's
one of those things where it's like if you're from California,
I've eaten it so much that I'm now sick.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
It's probably just like I can't do it anymore.
Speaker 2 (18:51):
You're out, Like I'm not even gets the burgers are
so like flat, like I need like something.
Speaker 4 (18:57):
Don't want to fat burger that's just going to fall
out like I do, though you don't.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
I do. I want a juicy burger.
Speaker 4 (19:03):
You know In and Out has a juicy burger, but
you don't want your burger falling out the bun.
Speaker 1 (19:08):
Well, but you can get like yeah, no, okay, I
hear you.
Speaker 4 (19:11):
Because then you're just gonna beat me after having the
times when I.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
Go to In and Out like I feel like they're
not like really putting in love and my burger like
it's just.
Speaker 4 (19:17):
Like a slap on every time I've had it out.
Speaker 1 (19:21):
Felt the love.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
You think that's why you committed to do because the
in and Out Burgers that you were eating just like
really sparked that, like five.
Speaker 3 (19:26):
In you.
Speaker 4 (19:28):
They don't have it, Duke.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
No, do you think that's why eatning though it is
in and out Burgers has like made you that good
of a basketball player that you can go to Duke.
Speaker 4 (19:37):
I mean I wouldn't give credits in and out, but
what you know?
Speaker 1 (19:41):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (19:41):
Wow, See we're just getting monetizing all of that.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
Great. If you could go to dinner with anyone dead
or alive, who would it be?
Speaker 4 (19:50):
Uh, Kobe Bryant.
Speaker 1 (19:53):
It's the classic answer. I feel like everyone says.
Speaker 4 (19:54):
That Kobe or Jordan for sure.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
Who is your favorite non basketball athlete?
Speaker 4 (20:00):
Favorite non basketball athlete? Good question, I'll go Patrick Mahomes.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
Football. Okay, is that your second favorite sport?
Speaker 4 (20:11):
I mean I will probably watch football the most out
of all other sports.
Speaker 1 (20:14):
Do you play fantasy? No, you're just too walk in.
Yeah that's what to play fantasy? Okay. What is your
favorite movie?
Speaker 4 (20:21):
Favorite movie? Spijam? The first one. I like to watch
that like all the time.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
Actually I like the second one. It gets too much hate.
It's cute.
Speaker 4 (20:28):
It's like Second Ones.
Speaker 1 (20:29):
All right, you're a Jordan guy. Yeah, yeah, So that's
why you like that. Okay. What is your favorite TV show?
Speaker 4 (20:36):
Uh? Watched a lot of All American during COVID, that's
the one.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
What is your favorite video game?
Speaker 4 (20:42):
Uh? I really don't play video.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
Games really, No two k nothing, no Fortnite, like rarely,
you don't. I can't if you don't play Fortnite.
Speaker 4 (20:51):
I mean I probably played Fortnite like a couple of
days ago.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
But okay, so lies, now we're getting this out of you.
I don't play video games.
Speaker 4 (20:57):
But it might be like once every two months.
Speaker 1 (21:01):
That's still like, I mean, that's more often than I
play video games.
Speaker 4 (21:05):
Yeah, but like when you say someone plays video.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
Okay, you're saying like you're not like in your house
just like gaming every night.
Speaker 4 (21:10):
I'm not play two games and I'm off for the
next two months.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
Really, okay, I need to keep track. I need to
see if this is like a lie or not, if
it's like, actually two months, you wouldn't lie.
Speaker 1 (21:20):
Okay. What is your favorite song?
Speaker 4 (21:22):
Favorite song? Wait for You by Future?
Speaker 1 (21:26):
What is you favorite ice cream flavor?
Speaker 4 (21:28):
Cookies and cream from?
Speaker 1 (21:30):
Where do you have like a certain place.
Speaker 4 (21:31):
In l A, like not a certain place but brand
to lamok or whatever?
Speaker 1 (21:37):
Is that like a grocery store ice cream that you
can get like in the pines?
Speaker 4 (21:40):
I think I think they're based out of organ or something.
Speaker 1 (21:43):
You know, the whole thing. You must really like it. Yes, okay,
I'm like a.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
Cookie dough cookie do is cookies and cream is like
too heavy? I like cookie dough, mint chip.
Speaker 4 (21:53):
Mint chocolate chip.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
I think those are Yeah, is that the same thing?
Mint chocolate chip and mintchip? Probably right? Yeah, No, that's
my favorite flavor. Okay. What is your favorite on the
court sneaker Kobe's and what is your favorite off the
court sneaker?
Speaker 4 (22:09):
I wear a lot of pool with, wear a lot
of pool with, but I mean new Bounce. I like.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
I like your shoes. I like you Bounce. I have
those shoes all right. What is your go to emoji?
Speaker 4 (22:19):
Probably like the crying emoji, but like the sideways one.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
Yeah, oh uh huh good one. What is your favorite candy?
Speaker 4 (22:26):
Favorite candy Skittles?
Speaker 1 (22:29):
Did you dress up for Halloween?
Speaker 4 (22:31):
I did? I was.
Speaker 3 (22:33):
I was Simon from Alvin and shimmucks really strong.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
Did you trigger treat?
Speaker 4 (22:38):
No?
Speaker 1 (22:38):
I didn't get any Skittles. No, sad. Who is the
most famous person in your contacts.
Speaker 4 (22:45):
Ooh, probably, I mean, oh, I mean coaches in there.
Most famous person i'd probably say, like yeah, like PUSHI
or somebody. Yeah probably yeah, nobody crazy.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
I mean that's pretty cool. Who is your celebrity lookalike?
Speaker 4 (23:10):
Celebrity look alike? I don't think I have one.
Speaker 1 (23:13):
Really, no one's ever given you one.
Speaker 2 (23:15):
No, I'm trying to see, like I asked this question,
I should like come with like some research and like
really like look at you and I need to like
find it. I'll let you know who I think figure
it out? And what is your favorite podcast?
Speaker 3 (23:26):
Nick?
Speaker 4 (23:27):
This one?
Speaker 2 (23:27):
Yeah? Obviously obviously you gotta say slow Nose is my
favorite podcast.
Speaker 4 (23:32):
Slow nos is my favorite part.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
Emphasize on favorite you like mumbled favorite me?
Speaker 4 (23:36):
Slow is my favorite?
Speaker 2 (23:38):
There we go, There we go. That's why I like
to hear. Okay, moving on. This is the next little
rapid fire section. Okay, I am going to say a word,
and you're gonna have to tell me an NBA player
that you think connotate's with that word you really like
think about it like that. I think I just used
the word connotate wrong. I was trying to sound smart
and it didn't work. But whatever, let's just pretend like
it worked. Okay, defense.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
Kawhi, Leonard Iq, Luca clutch ooh Teth selflessness, Jokic Aura
shake Gojess, Alexander.
Speaker 2 (24:13):
Agreed, veteran Lebron vision Luca instincts Yo Kic trip shake
go Axander.
Speaker 1 (24:24):
Good. Okay. Now, lastly, this is the yes or no section.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
I'm going to tell you a claim, an NBA claim,
and you're gonna have to tell me whether you agree
or not.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
Are you ready?
Speaker 4 (24:33):
M hmm?
Speaker 1 (24:34):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
The Cavs will say is a top three team in
the East made wow?
Speaker 1 (24:39):
Okay, straight up?
Speaker 2 (24:40):
No, I mean they literally were beating the Warriors by
forty points last night.
Speaker 1 (24:44):
No, you think it's a fluke?
Speaker 4 (24:45):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (24:45):
Okay, why do you think it's fluke?
Speaker 4 (24:48):
I mean, I mean they're doing pretty good right now.
They got two guards that I'll pass will. I just
figured Celtis are going to be in there. H Billy's
going to find a way to be in there.
Speaker 1 (25:00):
Doesn't look that way right now.
Speaker 4 (25:02):
Yeah, but they'll figure it out. Okay, somebody else will be.
Speaker 1 (25:05):
Okay, Okay. Joel Embiid will leave the Sixers this year?
No really? Okay? Expand on that.
Speaker 4 (25:12):
I mean that's like his place, Like where else would.
Speaker 1 (25:16):
He go, right, But it doesn't seem to be working out.
Speaker 4 (25:18):
He wouldn't even look right in anybody else's jersey though.
Speaker 1 (25:20):
I think so. Yeah, you only see him in the city.
Speaker 2 (25:24):
Okay, Wemby will get a quadruple double in his career.
Speaker 1 (25:28):
Yeah you think so? How soon? Uh?
Speaker 4 (25:33):
Probably like two years.
Speaker 1 (25:34):
Yeah, he needs a little bit of time to develop.
Speaker 2 (25:36):
Okay, the Thunder will win a chip in the next
three years. Yeah, I feel like you're a shay guy.
Speaker 4 (25:43):
I just think he's he's really good. But if you
look at their team and how they act each other.
Speaker 2 (25:49):
Yeah, yeah, sort of the way that you were saying
how Harvard West like has that community vibe.
Speaker 1 (25:53):
You can really see it there.
Speaker 4 (25:54):
They're like really all right, they're all together during the interview.
Speaker 1 (25:57):
They're all friends totally.
Speaker 2 (25:59):
If I was in your shoes and someone asked me
what NBA team I would hope to.
Speaker 1 (26:04):
Be on, it would definitely be the Thunder.
Speaker 4 (26:05):
Thunder.
Speaker 2 (26:06):
I just feel like this, Yeah, all right. Next up,
Jannis will stay a buck for his whole career.
Speaker 4 (26:14):
I'm gonna say yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (26:16):
I agree.
Speaker 2 (26:17):
And lastly, Jason Tatum win an MVP Award this season.
Speaker 4 (26:21):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, he can do it.
Speaker 1 (26:25):
Duke Guy m v P.
Speaker 4 (26:26):
He's been playing well too, he yes, yeah.
Speaker 1 (26:28):
I mean the Celtics are off to a good start
except for the Warriors beat.
Speaker 4 (26:31):
Them, Lou You knows, all right, are pretty good.
Speaker 1 (26:34):
They're really good except for last night. I have no
idea what happened, but Buddy.
Speaker 2 (26:37):
Hill was literally the best that was Yeah, we did
it was bad, all right, Nick, here's my last question.
Can you please nominate the next guest that you think
should be on Slow Nose.
Speaker 4 (26:49):
I'll go, shoot, I'll go. I'll go to Zay Johnson
from Campbell Hall.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
Okay, great, yep. What about Cooper Flag?
Speaker 4 (27:00):
I mean, Coop probably gonna be getting ready for the
League two.
Speaker 1 (27:03):
You should call him up and be like, Coop, come
on Slow Nose.
Speaker 4 (27:06):
Yeah, I he should if he wants.
Speaker 1 (27:07):
To do amazing. Thank you.
Speaker 2 (27:10):
Thanks for listening to this episode of Sloan nos Next,
you can get links to my socials and see behind
the scenes fun from Nick and I in the show notes,
or just search at Sloan Nose on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Speaker 1 (27:21):
Remember that Sloane is a needy
The volume.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
I'm Slow and this is Sloane nos Next. We sit
down with the future stars of tomorrow. Today's guest is
Nick Kamenya, a four star recruit who recently just committed
to Duke University. His journey of winning back to back
state titled with Harvard west Lake to winning a gold
medal with Team USA and his dreams of playing in
(00:28):
the NBA is a story you won't want to miss,
all right, Nick, So this is an episode of Sloane
nos Next. And for those who haven't gotten the privileged
to know a little bit about your game yet, would
you mind telling us your age, your name, where you
play basketball, and where you're going to play in college.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (00:51):
I'm Nick Kmenya. I'm seventeen years old's twenty twenty five.
I go to Harvard west Lake and next year I'll
be at Duke.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Congrats that's a big time Nick just committed, very excited.
It's really cool to have him on. How old were
you when you started to play basketball?
Speaker 4 (01:05):
Really ever since? I can remember just going to my
dad's practices. So shoot, I think I really started picking
it up when I was five six, okay, just dribbling
around shooting.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
Yeah, were you always taller than the other kids?
Speaker 4 (01:17):
Yeah, all the time, all the time.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
How tall is your dad six eight and your mom
six foot? Wow? So you have tall gen didn't im
assuming you guys are a basketball family.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
Yeah, yeah, both my parents played okay in college. Yeah,
my mom went to a Juco in Florida and my
dad played at George Washington.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Oh wow, okay, cool, so it runs it's in your
blood when you were growing up. Did you play any
other sports or it was always just basketball?
Speaker 3 (01:40):
No?
Speaker 4 (01:41):
Literally, it was basketball, basketball, basketball the whole time.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
Oh wait, so that's in your blood.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
Lockdown.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Other than your parents, who was a you know, basketball
idol for you growing up?
Speaker 4 (01:53):
I mean I grew up watching a lot of basketbats
just on the TV, just waking up and turning it on.
It wasn't a time of Disney Channel and never Yeah,
it was none of that. I watched a lot of
the Lakers.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (02:06):
But I love the Spurs a lot growing up, especially
when I first started understanding basketball. They were like the
team so like there.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
Was no connection to San Antonio. You just like like
their style of play.
Speaker 4 (02:14):
Yeah, they were just the best team when you grow up. Yeah,
So like I kind of hopped in that bandwagon. Kawhi
Leonard was like my favorite player.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Yeah, so you still a first fan? Yeah, we Yeah.
What do you think about Chris Paul joining the Spurs?
Speaker 4 (02:28):
I mean he was at he was at the JT
camp when I was there as well, and I know
his son, So I mean, Chris Paul, he's a good player,
he's a good point guard. I mean he's already helped
the Spurs so much he's being there.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
So yeah, it's cool to see.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
So I got the chance to interview you at Jason
Tatum camp, like you just touched on, which is pretty
cool that at seventeen, you've already had experiences where you've
gotten to meet and play with NBA players. But I'm
curious who was the first NBA player you ever met?
Speaker 4 (02:55):
First NBA player I ever met? That's a good question,
thank you. Uh oh, I mean my godfather used to
be in the NBA.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
Okay, that's that's one, my.
Speaker 4 (03:08):
Godfather, Slava Medvedenko. Yeah, he's probably the first. But I
mean I went to Kobe's Jersey retirement and I met
so many NBA players at that time, Mat Kobe that night,
Magic Johnson, James Worthy, Uh, Kareem.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
Wow. Yeah, night that night was that's crazy.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
Yeah, that was the best one.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
Is there a specific NBA player that you model your
game after.
Speaker 4 (03:33):
I wouldn't say specific, but I just take bits and pieces.
I think guys like Luka, Doncic and Jokic who kind
of played the game a little slower and then defensively
like Kauhi. Of course, I know he hasn't played a
whole bunch, but yeah, like guys that take defense as
seriously as they do offense. Try to model my game
after that.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Yeah, I like that mentality. Are there any comps that
you've gotten, player comps that you've really liked?
Speaker 4 (03:57):
I mean I've heard Luca a couple of times. I mean,
that's that's a good one to here scary. Yeah, but
I mean I like take it as a compliment that
But at the same time, I just think I'm different
than a lot of people. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
So yeah, yeah, it's important to differentiate yourself. I feel
like that a lot.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
What has been your most memorable basketball moment so far
in your life?
Speaker 4 (04:17):
Most memorable? Uh, I'd probably say man won a lot
of championships, so probably my first day championship. I felt
like that was probably the best one, just because freshman
year I didn't get a ton of playing time.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
Yeah, you're a freshman on varsity.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
Yeah, okay, So I mean losing my freshman year and
then working that whole summer, spring, fall, even and then
coming into the playoffs we started off a little rocky,
but then beating Centennial, who was like the team at
the time, and then winning that first day championship for
the school as an open vision was cool. That was
probably the best.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
That's special.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Who have been the you know, top three best players
that you played with so far in either high school or.
Speaker 4 (05:01):
A top three players? Uh? Probably go Trent Perry for sure.
Oh man, I played with a lot of good ones
in the top five.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
If you want, you can say as money as you want,
I want to hear top ten, but I'm just go
for it.
Speaker 4 (05:19):
Might as well, Yeah, I probably go Trent, Robert Brady, Shoe,
Zay Johnson on my AU team, Peyton White, who else?
Who else? Was not trying to miss nobody? Robert Hinton,
I say.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Robert already, No, I don't think you said him.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
Robert Hinton, Jacob Huggins was good man. Everybody I played with.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Everyone, Okay, everyone give a shout out to everyone. All right, So,
what is the biggest difference is that you've seen between
playing A you and high school? Because they're they're different games,
you know, it's not the same thing.
Speaker 4 (05:51):
I feel like AU you kind of learned how to
play extremely tired you're playing.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
How many games do you play today?
Speaker 4 (06:00):
I mean like sometimes two, sometimes one, but it can
be like four in one weekend, which gets super tough
a lot. But I mean, I just say high school
is way more organized. You got a better feel for
teams that you're playing against. You got a better feel
for the teammates that you're playing with. In AU, you
can only practice so much with everybody being there. But yeah,
(06:23):
I mean it's it's it's a pretty big difference. But
I've been looking lucky enough to play on AU team
where we've had the same guys. Yeah, yeah, So I
mean building chemistry with them and working out with them
all the time.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
Like, do you prefer A you or high school or
it's the same for you?
Speaker 4 (06:40):
No, I prefer high school for sure, just because you
can prepare way more than you can for AU.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
And I'm assuming going to school with those guys you
can create like more of a special.
Speaker 4 (06:50):
Yeah, and it helps a lot. Like chemistry is such
a big piece of bath wall that people don't understand,
Like people bring in transfer its like it's season. It's
hard to play together at that point. But if you
have a whole season to build something, then forward the
end of the season, you guys are gonna be really good.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
I mean you could call Harvard Westlake where you go
at this point, almost like a high school powerhouse. Right,
winning so many state championships in the past couple of years,
what do you think has been the key to your guys' success?
Speaker 4 (07:17):
I mean exactly that, Like we've brought in two transfers
in however many years that coach Wilbo has been there. Yeah,
and I mean we have really good coaching staff.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (07:27):
Who uh, they don't let us just do whatever. It
don't matter who you are, what kind of player you are.
And I mean we're just literally just a brotherhood, like
we just put were together all the time at school,
Like yeah, we'll be in a big circle like in
the middle of the quad just talk exactly. We're just
a family there. Uh. And I don't a lot of
people a lot of places say they have that, but
(07:48):
only so many people act like it.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
So yeah, yeah, that's great. Okay.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
So you know, obviously, like we said earlier, committed to
Duke and you've had some pretty amazing.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Offers as well. What is what was it like?
Speaker 2 (07:58):
You know, when you were playing in it their AE
or high school and you look over in the side
and you see these guys sitting there in the Duke
Cats and zagahats and you're like, oh my gosh, like
these scouts are there for me.
Speaker 4 (08:09):
I mean it's just different. Like you grow up thinking
about that kind of stuff, but yeah, you dream about it,
but you never really think it's possible. You just work
for it, not thinking anything of it. But when it
really starts to happen, you're like, oh, shoot, like koch
Shi are really sitting right there watch my game right now?
Like mm hmm, it really hits you, Like yeah, man,
like these people really want me to come and play
for them, like you only dream about playing at places
(08:31):
like Duke.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (08:32):
Just I mean four years ago, I was probably watching
the mal Invitational Zion R. J. Berry.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
It is like, now that's gonna get it.
Speaker 4 (08:39):
Yeah, you wouldn't even think about that, but I mean
now having that shoot not even having the opportunity, but
gonna go being committed there. Yeah, that's it's really cool.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
We talked about this a little bit before we started filming,
but I want to touch on it again. Whereas you know,
I'm obviously not a D one basketball player like you are,
but I was gonna say, if I was in your shoes,
I feel like, if I got that do Golfer, I'd
be like, that's it, that's the one I'm going there.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
What was that process like for you?
Speaker 4 (09:07):
I mean, I feel like recruiting it starts like right
before I think junior, like when they can start calling
you and whatnot. Yeah, so it's a really long process
of phone calls and messages and meetings and visits. It
takes a lot out of you, but it's also fun
(09:28):
and it's a blessing that not a lot of people
can experience. So you take the good and you appreciate
that way more than you do the bad in the
negative side of it. But I mean, it's super fun
to be recruited. Yeah, And ultimately, like I said earlier,
it's a dream and you work for it every single day.
So it was super cool And obviously it was a blessing,
but you can only really choose one school.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
So yeah, for you, it has a video and I
feel like for you, you know, I've I realized this with
your Instagram. It was like all of a sudden, all
these offers were pouring it, pouring it and pouring it.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
How are you able to stay humble, stay grounded when
you sort of your stock rose that much?
Speaker 4 (10:03):
I mean I really just think it's my parents in
just the base that they installed in me. Yea, ever
since I was young. Shoot, my dad told me today,
as soon as you think you've made it, that's when
you start to fall off.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
Wow.
Speaker 4 (10:16):
So yeah, you just always got to keep working like
it don't matter. It don't matter where you are at
that certain point one second, it can all be taken
away for a mistake, for anything you start working hard.
So ultimately, my dream is to be in the NBA,
So I'm not going to start working until I get there.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Yeah, and this sort of ties into that as well.
How have you been able to balance being a student
and an athlete?
Speaker 4 (10:39):
I mean, yeah, especially at Harvard Westley.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
Yeah, I was gonna say that's hard, Yeah.
Speaker 4 (10:43):
But I mean you kind of get used to it.
But I mean you have to help from people and
you just have to sacrifice a lot.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (10:51):
Some weekends, yeah you might just be sitting at home
doing homework or just going to the gym and then
going back home to do homework. But I mean you
learn how to do it.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
Yeah. I mean it's good experience because like eventually.
Speaker 4 (11:03):
For the next level. Yeah, ultimately.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
One und So, if I want to go watch Harvard
Westlake play this year, what game would you suggest me
or anyone listening goes to.
Speaker 4 (11:13):
I mean, sure you can go to all of them. Uh,
the most fun I'll probably say I've had the most
fun playing in playoffs. Yeah, but in season, the league
is always fun. Every single game is always fun. This
year we got to play at the end of a dome,
which is gonna be super cool. So cool. Yeah, have
you been there yet? No? I haven't.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
I haven't either. I want to go so badly. And
you know, there's all the high school jerseys hung up
on the wall from every single high school in California
or in Los Angeles.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
That it's insane. That's crazy senior jersey up there.
Speaker 4 (11:43):
Cool, that would be fine, that'd be fine.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
So we touched on a little bit about your high
school teammates. You know, Trent Perry who goes to UCLA
and Robert Hinton who goes to Harvard and has been
going off at Harvard, which has been.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
Cool to see. What was it like for you to
a play with them?
Speaker 2 (11:58):
And then how have they helped you sort of you know,
navigate your senior year and commitment and all of that.
Speaker 4 (12:04):
I mean, I still I think I texted Trent and
Robert yesterday because I know Trent played a good mind
minus yesterday he did pretty solid. And Robert, of course,
I think he just had back to back twenty five
plus games. B I mean being able to play with
those guys, like when you're in high school, they're just
like your friends, like just regular guys, and then they're
going off the big time D one schools and they're
(12:27):
doing what they're doing. But I mean, I've learned a
lot of things from the seniors in my past, and
I've taken that into my senior year. So yeah, I mean,
there always good guys to text and call whenever I
need something.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
Yeah, and talking about big times he wont schools. I
want to like really get into Duke for a little
bit here. How do you think your game fits in
with Duke's playing style, especially with the Boozer Twins coming in.
Speaker 4 (12:51):
I mean, I think they just have a lot of
versatile guys, and I think I'm literally just like that.
Just being able to shoot, being able to pass, dribble,
I mean yeah, I mean they played super hardy, they're
super positive energy wise. I feel like I can do
just that. I try to practice that every single day
at Harvard West like right now. Yeah, talking to my
(13:12):
teammates about the whole practice, talking on the court the
entire time. Just really just preparing myself for next year.
And I really see myself being a part of that.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
Brother, Yeah for sure.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
And can you walk us through your official visit? I
love hearing about official visits. What was your favorite part
of Durham Any good food?
Speaker 3 (13:29):
Like?
Speaker 1 (13:29):
What was that like?
Speaker 4 (13:30):
No, my favorite part was actually when I got to
play with them. Yeah, so we had did some runs
and I got to play with Spencer Harberd, who actually
went to Harvard Westlake I think two years or a
year before I went there. Yeah, So, I mean it
was just super fun getting up and down in there.
And I mean Durham is a's a really nice place.
It's pretty quiet, but you can tell that people really
(13:52):
love Duke. Ye, you can really tell that. But yeah,
I mean it was super fun. Playing with them was
super fun. The meetings were good. Food was good too.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
I've been to the Duke Dining Hall.
Speaker 4 (14:03):
The Duke Dining Hall. Yeah, that's what a lot of people.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
Talking about and ma big back activities.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
But that was my favorite part when I at what
is one thing that you want the Cameron crazies, which is,
you know, Duke's fan base to know about you.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
Nick Kmena, I.
Speaker 4 (14:16):
Mean, I'm gonna come in. I'm gonna give him my hall.
I like to label myself as this guy that just
likes to win. Yeah, that's about it.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
Like I think they're gonna like that they like to win.
Can you give us your Duke all time? Starting five.
I'm putting you on the spot here. I know you
like to include a lot of people, but we need
to be strict here and go with a five.
Speaker 4 (14:40):
Top five. I'm gonna go Shire at.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
The one, Wow the coach, Okay.
Speaker 4 (14:47):
JJ Ready at the two, Jason Tatum at the three,
Christian Lander at the five, just because of how good
he did at Duke. I'll actually move Jayson Tatum down
before and I'll go Grant Hill at the three.
Speaker 1 (15:02):
You're leaving out a lot of pretty good Duke players.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
Huh, Kyrie, you know, I mean there's so many Barritt
but okay.
Speaker 4 (15:11):
JJ Reddick, what he did at Duke was different. Grant
Hill won a national championship. Christian Laner win national championship.
Jason Tatums, Jason Tatum, Koch my head coach.
Speaker 1 (15:22):
Julil okafor love, Like, come on, you know.
Speaker 4 (15:24):
There's just there's just so many going on there.
Speaker 2 (15:27):
Yeah, all right, So I want to move on now
to a little rapid fire section. So we got to
go fast and ask you some questions really to get
to know you. So this is where the camera crazy
is out there. Really to get to know do commit
m it command yet?
Speaker 1 (15:39):
Okay? What is one aspect of your game that you're
most proud of? And why?
Speaker 4 (15:43):
Passing? I think it's just different. I can make a
lot of no look passes behind the back pass. Yeah,
I like that.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
What is your favorite school subject? None?
Speaker 4 (15:54):
Math?
Speaker 1 (15:55):
Really?
Speaker 4 (15:55):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (15:56):
I hate math? I like history better.
Speaker 4 (16:00):
A fan?
Speaker 3 (16:00):
No?
Speaker 1 (16:00):
Really, are you good at math? Or you just like?
Speaker 2 (16:03):
What?
Speaker 4 (16:04):
Ma? Are you win calculus? Wow?
Speaker 2 (16:06):
Okay, I'm in pre Calcary now. It's horrible. I just
failed another test. It's really bad.
Speaker 1 (16:10):
I hate it. In the next five years, who is
going to be the face of the NBA and why.
Speaker 4 (16:14):
Next five years? Jason Tatum? He just won a national,
not national champion, he just won an NBA championship. Celsa's
are good. He's the best player on that team.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
They see who is an NBA player that is your
dream to share the court with them?
Speaker 4 (16:34):
I feel like Jokic, you just make everybody better.
Speaker 1 (16:37):
You want to be a nugget.
Speaker 4 (16:38):
That'd be cool.
Speaker 1 (16:39):
I like that. Who is your dream NBA player to
play against.
Speaker 4 (16:43):
Lebron?
Speaker 2 (16:45):
Have you Lebron played against each other on this wonderful
Phoenix Melbourne court.
Speaker 1 (16:51):
Who do you think would win? And what do you
think the score would be?
Speaker 4 (16:54):
Lebron will for sure win. I'm not even gonna lie.
Speaker 1 (16:58):
Like that.
Speaker 4 (16:58):
Eleven eleven m I score ones and twos?
Speaker 1 (17:05):
Sure?
Speaker 4 (17:06):
Five points?
Speaker 1 (17:07):
Wow?
Speaker 4 (17:08):
Five eleven, that's confident.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
I like it. How many points you think I would
score if we one v one right now?
Speaker 4 (17:16):
Zero?
Speaker 1 (17:16):
Well, you don't even know. I could be like so good?
Speaker 2 (17:20):
Really, no, I think because I'm gonna like I'm I'm
like really shifty and I'm a really good defender. So
I just like swatted out of your hands and then
just like pull up and like I can do a
little granny.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
I'm really good at those. Like when you do it
like that's the way.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
No, I'm telling you, like that's the thing. It's like
it's a different type of game, but I'm telling you,
like I'm gonna be you.
Speaker 1 (17:39):
What is your favorite clothing brand?
Speaker 3 (17:42):
Essential is nice? Probably Essential, shout out excel toect.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
You like your agencies, it's not really a brand, but
you're aware. What is your go to cheat meal?
Speaker 4 (17:54):
Go to cheat meal? I got a lot of those.
I like pizza. I like sushi.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
Yeah, it's sushi really a cheap man. I feel like
that's like not that unhealthy.
Speaker 4 (18:04):
Then I probably say like an in and out burger.
Speaker 1 (18:06):
What's your favorite sushi restaurant in La.
Speaker 4 (18:10):
Dude? There are some goings. There's I he in Studio City.
There's a.
Speaker 1 (18:16):
Like Spicy you know, Krispy Rice.
Speaker 4 (18:18):
I mean I don't really do tuna like that.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
Okay, No, that's like my I like I love sushi,
but I'm also a fake sushi person, Like I'm like oh,
I love.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
Sushi's my favorite food.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
And then I get like cucumber cut roll and like
at a moment, yeah, I'm fake.
Speaker 1 (18:31):
What is your favorite fast food restaurant?
Speaker 4 (18:39):
I'll go In and Out?
Speaker 2 (18:41):
La boy, Yes, same. I feel like In and OU's
one of those things where it's like if you're from California,
I've eaten it so much that I'm now sick.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
It's probably just like I can't do it anymore.
Speaker 2 (18:51):
You're out, Like I'm not even gets the burgers are
so like flat, like I need like something.
Speaker 4 (18:57):
Don't want to fat burger that's just going to fall
out like I do, though you don't.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
I do. I want a juicy burger.
Speaker 4 (19:03):
You know In and Out has a juicy burger, but
you don't want your burger falling out the bun.
Speaker 1 (19:08):
Well, but you can get like yeah, no, okay, I
hear you.
Speaker 4 (19:11):
Because then you're just gonna beat me after having the
times when I.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
Go to In and Out like I feel like they're
not like really putting in love and my burger like
it's just.
Speaker 4 (19:17):
Like a slap on every time I've had it out.
Speaker 1 (19:21):
Felt the love.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
You think that's why you committed to do because the
in and Out Burgers that you were eating just like
really sparked that, like five.
Speaker 3 (19:26):
In you.
Speaker 4 (19:28):
They don't have it, Duke.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
No, do you think that's why eatning though it is
in and out Burgers has like made you that good
of a basketball player that you can go to Duke.
Speaker 4 (19:37):
I mean I wouldn't give credits in and out, but
what you know?
Speaker 1 (19:41):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (19:41):
Wow, See we're just getting monetizing all of that.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
Great. If you could go to dinner with anyone dead
or alive, who would it be?
Speaker 4 (19:50):
Uh, Kobe Bryant.
Speaker 1 (19:53):
It's the classic answer. I feel like everyone says.
Speaker 4 (19:54):
That Kobe or Jordan for sure.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
Who is your favorite non basketball athlete?
Speaker 4 (20:00):
Favorite non basketball athlete? Good question, I'll go Patrick Mahomes.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
Football. Okay, is that your second favorite sport?
Speaker 4 (20:11):
I mean I will probably watch football the most out
of all other sports.
Speaker 1 (20:14):
Do you play fantasy? No, you're just too walk in.
Yeah that's what to play fantasy? Okay. What is your
favorite movie?
Speaker 4 (20:21):
Favorite movie? Spijam? The first one. I like to watch
that like all the time.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
Actually I like the second one. It gets too much hate.
It's cute.
Speaker 4 (20:28):
It's like Second Ones.
Speaker 1 (20:29):
All right, you're a Jordan guy. Yeah, yeah, So that's
why you like that. Okay. What is your favorite TV show?
Speaker 4 (20:36):
Uh? Watched a lot of All American during COVID, that's
the one.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
What is your favorite video game?
Speaker 4 (20:42):
Uh? I really don't play video.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
Games really, No two k nothing, no Fortnite, like rarely,
you don't. I can't if you don't play Fortnite.
Speaker 4 (20:51):
I mean I probably played Fortnite like a couple of
days ago.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
But okay, so lies, now we're getting this out of you.
I don't play video games.
Speaker 4 (20:57):
But it might be like once every two months.
Speaker 1 (21:01):
That's still like, I mean, that's more often than I
play video games.
Speaker 4 (21:05):
Yeah, but like when you say someone plays video.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
Okay, you're saying like you're not like in your house
just like gaming every night.
Speaker 4 (21:10):
I'm not play two games and I'm off for the
next two months.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
Really, okay, I need to keep track. I need to
see if this is like a lie or not, if
it's like, actually two months, you wouldn't lie.
Speaker 1 (21:20):
Okay. What is your favorite song?
Speaker 4 (21:22):
Favorite song? Wait for You by Future?
Speaker 1 (21:26):
What is you favorite ice cream flavor?
Speaker 4 (21:28):
Cookies and cream from?
Speaker 1 (21:30):
Where do you have like a certain place.
Speaker 4 (21:31):
In l A, like not a certain place but brand
to lamok or whatever?
Speaker 1 (21:37):
Is that like a grocery store ice cream that you
can get like in the pines?
Speaker 4 (21:40):
I think I think they're based out of organ or something.
Speaker 1 (21:43):
You know, the whole thing. You must really like it. Yes, okay,
I'm like a.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
Cookie dough cookie do is cookies and cream is like
too heavy? I like cookie dough, mint chip.
Speaker 4 (21:53):
Mint chocolate chip.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
I think those are Yeah, is that the same thing?
Mint chocolate chip and mintchip? Probably right? Yeah, No, that's
my favorite flavor. Okay. What is your favorite on the
court sneaker Kobe's and what is your favorite off the
court sneaker?
Speaker 4 (22:09):
I wear a lot of pool with, wear a lot
of pool with, but I mean new Bounce. I like.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
I like your shoes. I like you Bounce. I have
those shoes all right. What is your go to emoji?
Speaker 4 (22:19):
Probably like the crying emoji, but like the sideways one.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
Yeah, oh uh huh good one. What is your favorite candy?
Speaker 4 (22:26):
Favorite candy Skittles?
Speaker 1 (22:29):
Did you dress up for Halloween?
Speaker 4 (22:31):
I did? I was.
Speaker 3 (22:33):
I was Simon from Alvin and shimmucks really strong.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
Did you trigger treat?
Speaker 4 (22:38):
No?
Speaker 1 (22:38):
I didn't get any Skittles. No, sad. Who is the
most famous person in your contacts.
Speaker 4 (22:45):
Ooh, probably, I mean, oh, I mean coaches in there.
Most famous person i'd probably say, like yeah, like PUSHI
or somebody. Yeah probably yeah, nobody crazy.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
I mean that's pretty cool. Who is your celebrity lookalike?
Speaker 4 (23:10):
Celebrity look alike? I don't think I have one.
Speaker 1 (23:13):
Really, no one's ever given you one.
Speaker 2 (23:15):
No, I'm trying to see, like I asked this question,
I should like come with like some research and like
really like look at you and I need to like
find it. I'll let you know who I think figure
it out? And what is your favorite podcast?
Speaker 3 (23:26):
Nick?
Speaker 4 (23:27):
This one?
Speaker 2 (23:27):
Yeah? Obviously obviously you gotta say slow Nose is my
favorite podcast.
Speaker 4 (23:32):
Slow nos is my favorite part.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
Emphasize on favorite you like mumbled favorite me?
Speaker 4 (23:36):
Slow is my favorite?
Speaker 2 (23:38):
There we go, There we go. That's why I like
to hear. Okay, moving on. This is the next little
rapid fire section. Okay, I am going to say a word,
and you're gonna have to tell me an NBA player
that you think connotate's with that word you really like
think about it like that. I think I just used
the word connotate wrong. I was trying to sound smart
and it didn't work. But whatever, let's just pretend like
it worked. Okay, defense.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
Kawhi, Leonard Iq, Luca clutch ooh Teth selflessness, Jokic Aura
shake Gojess, Alexander.
Speaker 2 (24:13):
Agreed, veteran Lebron vision Luca instincts Yo Kic trip shake
go Axander.
Speaker 1 (24:24):
Good. Okay. Now, lastly, this is the yes or no section.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
I'm going to tell you a claim, an NBA claim,
and you're gonna have to tell me whether you agree
or not.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
Are you ready?
Speaker 4 (24:33):
M hmm?
Speaker 1 (24:34):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
The Cavs will say is a top three team in
the East made wow?
Speaker 1 (24:39):
Okay, straight up?
Speaker 2 (24:40):
No, I mean they literally were beating the Warriors by
forty points last night.
Speaker 1 (24:44):
No, you think it's a fluke?
Speaker 4 (24:45):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (24:45):
Okay, why do you think it's fluke?
Speaker 4 (24:48):
I mean, I mean they're doing pretty good right now.
They got two guards that I'll pass will. I just
figured Celtis are going to be in there. H Billy's
going to find a way to be in there.
Speaker 1 (25:00):
Doesn't look that way right now.
Speaker 4 (25:02):
Yeah, but they'll figure it out. Okay, somebody else will be.
Speaker 1 (25:05):
Okay, Okay. Joel Embiid will leave the Sixers this year?
No really? Okay? Expand on that.
Speaker 4 (25:12):
I mean that's like his place, Like where else would.
Speaker 1 (25:16):
He go, right, But it doesn't seem to be working out.
Speaker 4 (25:18):
He wouldn't even look right in anybody else's jersey though.
Speaker 1 (25:20):
I think so. Yeah, you only see him in the city.
Speaker 2 (25:24):
Okay, Wemby will get a quadruple double in his career.
Speaker 1 (25:28):
Yeah you think so? How soon? Uh?
Speaker 4 (25:33):
Probably like two years.
Speaker 1 (25:34):
Yeah, he needs a little bit of time to develop.
Speaker 2 (25:36):
Okay, the Thunder will win a chip in the next
three years. Yeah, I feel like you're a shay guy.
Speaker 4 (25:43):
I just think he's he's really good. But if you
look at their team and how they act each other.
Speaker 2 (25:49):
Yeah, yeah, sort of the way that you were saying
how Harvard West like has that community vibe.
Speaker 1 (25:53):
You can really see it there.
Speaker 4 (25:54):
They're like really all right, they're all together during the interview.
Speaker 1 (25:57):
They're all friends totally.
Speaker 2 (25:59):
If I was in your shoes and someone asked me
what NBA team I would hope to.
Speaker 1 (26:04):
Be on, it would definitely be the Thunder.
Speaker 4 (26:05):
Thunder.
Speaker 2 (26:06):
I just feel like this, Yeah, all right. Next up,
Jannis will stay a buck for his whole career.
Speaker 4 (26:14):
I'm gonna say yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (26:16):
I agree.
Speaker 2 (26:17):
And lastly, Jason Tatum win an MVP Award this season.
Speaker 4 (26:21):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, he can do it.
Speaker 1 (26:25):
Duke Guy m v P.
Speaker 4 (26:26):
He's been playing well too, he yes, yeah.
Speaker 1 (26:28):
I mean the Celtics are off to a good start
except for the Warriors beat.
Speaker 4 (26:31):
Them, Lou You knows, all right, are pretty good.
Speaker 1 (26:34):
They're really good except for last night. I have no
idea what happened, but Buddy.
Speaker 2 (26:37):
Hill was literally the best that was Yeah, we did
it was bad, all right, Nick, here's my last question.
Can you please nominate the next guest that you think
should be on Slow Nose.
Speaker 4 (26:49):
I'll go, shoot, I'll go. I'll go to Zay Johnson
from Campbell Hall.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
Okay, great, yep. What about Cooper Flag?
Speaker 4 (27:00):
I mean, Coop probably gonna be getting ready for the
League two.
Speaker 1 (27:03):
You should call him up and be like, Coop, come
on Slow Nose.
Speaker 4 (27:06):
Yeah, I he should if he wants.
Speaker 1 (27:07):
To do amazing. Thank you.
Speaker 2 (27:10):
Thanks for listening to this episode of Sloan nos Next,
you can get links to my socials and see behind
the scenes fun from Nick and I in the show notes,
or just search at Sloan Nose on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Speaker 1 (27:21):
Remember that Sloane is a needy
Host
Sloane Weinstein
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