Tennessee on verge of landing 5-star PF in what would be a Rick Barnes stunner

We don't want to get too excited, but at the same time, let Rick Barnes cook. For a while now, everyone has been waiting to see where 5-star power forward Nate Ament will end up committing. He was supposed to announce at the McDonald's All-American Game, but he delayed things.

Recently, however, Ament said his decision would come within a week or two. With the elite prospect getting close to an announcment, there has been recent buzz that Barnes and Tennessee basketball have been going all-in with his recruitment.

Let the latest update from 247Sports' Travis Branham get people to start thinking this dream might become a reality. On Thursday afternoon, Branham put in his 247Sports crystal ball pick for Ament to commit to Tennessee. Obviously, this would be a historic get for the Vols and Barnes:

5-star PF Nate Ament is now predicted to commit to Rick Barnes and Tennessee

Branham predicting Tennessee to land Ament sure is pretty darn head-turning. At the same time, it was reported that Barnes met with Ament earlier this week. Arkansas and Duke were considered the main contenders not long ago, but the Vols never stopped pushing for this potential signing.

Let's keep in mind that nothing is official yet and Ament hasn't made any sort of a decision. However, Branham is pretty well connected and he wouldn't put in a crystal ball pick like this if his sources didn't tell him that some unreal news could be on the way for the Vols.

Ament has all the tools to be a stud at the next level. According to the 247Sports Composite, he's ranked the No. 2 power forward in the country and the No. 4 player overall for the 2025 class. It has taken much longer than anticipated for him to shut things down, but we could hear from him any day now. Will he end up being a Vol? Things all of a sudden are looking that way.