We are still several months away from the 2025-26 season getting here for Tennessee basketball, but people can't wait to see forward Nate Ament in action. The highest-rated signee in program history, Ament has all the tools to be a spectacular player for the Vols.
Is he going to end up being one and done for head man Rick Barnes, however? That's what a lot of people have in mind, as Ament is no question going to be making the jump to the pros sooner rather than later. He's got lottery pick written all over him.
With the first round of the NBA Draft wrapping up on Wednesday night, On3 wasted no time in coming out with its way too early mock for 2026. It should come as no surprise that Ament is in the Top 5, with James Fletcher III having him going No. 3 overall.
Tennessee freshman Nate Ament is off the board at No. 3 overall in early 2026 Mock Draft
This would be unreal for Ament and obviously something that Tennessee fans would be quite happy about. Let's be real here, we'd love for Ament to spend four years in Knoxville the same way that Zakai Zeigler and Jahmai Mashack just did.
However, that's not going to happen. Barnes knows this and he has even discussed with Ament about getting him ready for the next level as soon as possible. With that said, it's going to be great for future recruiting if Ament does hear his name called so early next June.
When Ament committed to Tennessee for the 2025 cycle, plenty of people couldn't believe it. He was ranked five stars, the No. 2 power forward in the country and the No. 4 playmaker overall for his class. Yup, he's a superstar and he's going to provide plenty of problems for the SEC next campaign.
Once next season does wrap up, all signs are pointing to Ament leaving town to chase his NBA dreams. No one is going to blame him at all for that if things go down that way. And again, people will be pretty darn fired up if Fletcher is on the money and Ament comes off the board at No. 3.