Tennessee transfer Jaylen Carey has seen a lot of basketball and a lot of good players in his day. The 6-foot-8 forward began his career at James Madison before playing with Vanderbilt during the 2024-2025 season.
But his new teammate at Tennessee might be on a different level entirely.
True freshman Nate Ament is bringing a must-see skillset to Tennessee. The 6-foot-9 wing has the height of a forward but can operate the offense and facilitate the ball like a six-foot guard, according to fellow freshman Amari Evans. He’s now showcased his skills in front of the media twice this summer, but his teammates, like Carey, have been seeing it for a handful of weeks.
“That kid’s going to be special,” Carey said about Ament on Monday. “He’s like a baby Kevin Durant. I always tell him, I’m kind of like his bodyguard, I guess you could say. Whenever somebody’s punking him around, I told him to let me know whatever you need. Like on the floor, if somebody hits you, just let me know, I got you. I want to take care of him because I know that kid is going to be real special.”
While it may not be directly with Durant on the Rockets next year, Ament is projected to be playing NBA Summer League ball next July. ESPN, CBS Sports, and USA Today all have Ament projected as the fourth overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, while Bleacher Report has him just one spot lower at No. 5 in its rankings.
“A late bloomer, Ament has grown significantly in the past year, filling out his frame at 6-11. He’s a tremendous shotmaker; he has improved his passing and defensive versatility, and his ability to get a shot off almost at will gives him perhaps the highest upside of any prospect in this class,” ESPN’s Jonathan Givony wrote in his mock draft. “He’ll be a focal point at Tennessee, allowing NBA teams to evaluate whether he can emerge as a consistently efficient, winning player in a challenging SEC.”
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Rocky Top Insider’s Ryan Schumpert saw it firsthand while observing a Tennessee basketball summer practice back in June.
“It was just one practice but (Ament) fully lived up to his billing during it,” Schumpert wrote. “He made multiple jaw-dropping plays. … His guard skillset at his size also makes him extremely difficult to defend. Ament can cover a lot of ground from the time he picks up his dribble. That helps him avoid turning the ball over when driving to the basket.”
Ament will need to flourish into an impact player quickly with the Vols, but his skillset will certainly demand extra attention from opposing defenses. He has the length, size, versatility, and, frankly, the smoothness to be a top-tier offensive player in the league.
It’s yet to be seen on the court for an actual regular-season game, but excitement continues to rise for the Vols’ true freshman. He’s also a tough player. During a drill on Tuesday afternoon, Ament hit the ground hard after taking the ball to the rim. He stepped off the court to speak with the trainer, but was back in the rotation of the drill quickly after.
“What stands out about playing with Nate? I mean, he’s almost 6-foot-11 and he can do everything a six-foot guard can do,” Tennessee freshman Amari Evans said of Ament in June. “So that’s definitely crazy to me.”
Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider for more Tennessee basketball offseason coverage.
