When the five-star forward Nate Ament committed to the Tennessee basketball program last spring it sparked a sense of hope in the Vols fanbase. Ament was the highest rated recruit to ever commit to Tennessee basketball, and coming off an Elite Eight loss last march, he was expected to bolster the program to the next level.
Ament is a projected top-5 pick in next summer's NBA draft. He's a versatile forward who can score at all three levels. Ament's game doesn't have any glaring weaknesses; he can grab boards, make passes, and defend multiple positions.
Despite all that talent, it hasn't been an easy road for Ament. Currently, he is averaging 16.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. Pretty solid numbers, right? The problem is he is shooting 37.4% from the field and 28.9% from beyond the arc. During this three-game losing streak, Ament has struggled against more physical defenders and has been highly inefficient when scoring the rock.
Specifically, during this three-game skid, Ament is averaging 13 points a game and shooting only 28% from the field. It's tough to see such a talented player struggle, but Ament is too talented for this to be the norm.
Making the Case for Nate Ament
Call me crazy, but Ament is an 18-year-old playing in an era of college basketball full of grown men. There is going to be an adjustment period, just like most five-star freshmen go through. Yes, he has struggled with physical play, but it's good he's getting these lumps out now before SEC play.
What Tennessee basketball fans should be most excited about is that he's just scratching the surface of his uber-talented game. It's not too often you get a future top-five pick on campus, and Ament has a chance to do some significant things for Tennessee basketball.
I know it is tough to have patience, especially when the Vols are on a three-game losing streak, but Ament is the real deal. He will bounce back from this slump. Ament is too good not to, but the Vols need it to happen soon. Conference play is going to be huge.
This sets the stage for an exciting next month of Tennessee basketball. The Vols need to avoid another loss, and it won't be easy as they host Louisville next Tuesday.