Everyone has been all caught up in the Transfer Portal, and rightfully so, but the biggest recruiting effort has gone under the radar for Tennessee, and it could change the trajectory of next season. Rick Barnes is still awaiting a decision from freshman forward Nate Ament. The standout freshman, who averaged 16.7 points a game last year, has until Friday to declare for the NBA draft.
Rick Barnes adds veteran defensive mind to replace Justin Gainey on bench
Given this, Vols fans are hopeful they can get one more year out of Ament, but with a potential lottery selection, it could be hard to pass up. It's been reported that Ament is torn on whether to stay or leave, but Rick Barnes seems to think the decision is obvious for Ament.
Rick Barnes was asked about Nate Ament's NBA decision, and he offered a very real statement. Barnes said, “The fact of the matter is, I don't see how he can't go to the NBA because I think he's one of the top players in the country. But I think everybody thinks there's this long, drawn out (situation). You go through the process, gather all the information you can. He will do that, and he's going to make the right decision. But personally, I think I already know what the decision is, because I know how good a basketball player he is. But only the good Lord knows for certain."
Rick Barnes on Nate Ament's NBA decision: “The fact of the matter is, I don't see how he can't go to the NBA because I think he's one of the top players in the country. But I think everybody thinks there's this long, drawn out (situation). You go through the process, gather all…
— Ryan Schumpert (@ryanschumpert00) April 23, 2026
Rick Barnes hints at Nate Amentr being gone next year
At the end of the day, Rick Barnes wasn’t really trying to push Nate Ament back to Knoxville, just joking. Barnes wants what’s best for him, which probably means heading to the NBA. He’d obviously love to have him back for another year, but he isn’t forcing the issue, and that shows a lot of maturity.
Looking at the bigger picture, it seems as if Rick Barnes has been operating in the transfer portal as if Ament were already gone. The Vols have placed a heavy emphasis on scoring, and Tennessee is firmly in the mix, possibly even the leader, for Juke Harris, one of the top players available in the portal.
The reality is that Ament would be a top-five pick in most NBA Draft classes, but this year’s group is especially deep. He also didn’t have a dominant season at Tennessee. That’s not to say he was bad, he wasn’t, but he struggled early in the year adjusting to the physicality of college basketball. His play improved significantly in January, February, and March, but his overall body of work has contributed to his stock slipping in such a strong draft class.
Overall, we will find out soon where Ament is leaning, but odds are he's off to the league.
Add us as a preferred source on Google