Tennessee basketball is closing in on locking down its best recruit in program history, with five-star forward Nate Ament being crystal balled to the Vols by 247 Sports.
This addition would be a huge win for Rick Barnes as he retools the roster to fit the team's needs for the 2025-26 season. He hopes to compete for another SEC Championship and a deep postseason run.
The Vols are projected to beat out Arkansas, Duke, Kentucky, and Louisville for the 6-foot-9 forward out of Warrenton (Va.) Highland School. It looked like Duke was in the driver's seat for Ament for a while, but Tennessee jumped into the mix and became the favorite to land him on April 17.
He could be a perfect fit for the Vols as one of the best players in the class. He can cover ground, move fluidly, and play athletically from three or four positions on the court.
Who is Nate Ament?
Nate Ament covers lot of ground with his steps and moves. Skill level continues to get tighter. pic.twitter.com/cE9pNIXcnv
— Jonathan Wasserman (@NBADraftWass) April 11, 2025
He is one of the top players in the 2025 recruiting class, ranking as the No. 2 Power Forward and No. 4 Player nationally.
Ament is an athletic forward who does a great job creating space and using his athleticism to play as either a power forward or small forward, depending on the team's needs.
His ability to play and use his size to his advantage, as well as his development of skills centered around his size and limitations, allows him to be a versatile and fluid player on the court.
247 Sports' Director Of Scouting Adam Finkelstein says Ament is "a fluid mover, plus athlete, and has tremendous natural hands and touch, which are the foundation of his developing skill-set.
"He has a high release and soft touch with range that extends out to the three-point line, and yet is still learning to get consistently balanced in his lower body.
"The ball hits his hand incredibly softly when he puts it on the floor, and he's starting to show more creativity off the bounce as well. There are even some very real flashes of floor vision and passing ability, with both hands.
Finkelstein's biggest concern is his wiry frame, which usually isn't an issue once Barnes and company can get a guy on campus. The Vols' workout program typically benefits all players and body types, including Ament's skinny frame.
While this could be a problem for Ament and the Vols in his freshman season, I don't expect Barnes or Ament to let it hold him back. Barnes's ability to coach and teach physicality translates to virtually every player in the program, and I see that being no different with Ament.
If Barnes is successful in developing Ament, he could be a one-and-done player for the Vols as a lottery pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Ament would be a perfect addition to the 2025-26 roster. His play style could fit and mold to Tennessee's needs as they likely look to play with a bigger lineup next season with a limited number of guards on the roster.
It would follow a similar style of play to Florida and a few other top contenders this past season, which relied on bigger lineups. It would be something new for Rick Barnes as he continues to chase the Vols' first Final Four appearance in program history.