CHICAGO — Nate Ament has a decision to make following a standout freshman season with Tennessee basketball. Ament, a projected fringe lottery pick in this summer’s NBA Draft, could forego his remaining college eligibility for professional basketball or return to Tennessee for his sophomore season.
Ament offered little hints about his future during Tennessee’s open locker room Sunday afternoon.
“Nah,” Ament said when asked if he’s made any decisions. “I’m just here with my teammates trying to enjoy as much time as I have with them left.”
“Ultimately, I’m going to talk with the coaching staff and my circle and see what is the best decision for me. But no decisions yet.”
Ament, a top five recruit in the 2025 recruiting class, averaged 17 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and one steal per game in his freshman season. He earned Second Team All-SEC honors and scored 20-plus points in eight SEC games.
ESPN projects the Chicago Bulls to select Ament with the ninth pick in its latest 2026 NBA mock draft. CBS Sports latest mock draft has Ament going No. 9 overall to the Milwaukee Bucks.
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The 6-foot-10 wing battled injuries late in his freshman season. He first suffered an ankle injury on Feb. 24 against Missouri before injuring both his ankle and knee four days later against Alabama. Ament missed the final 2.5 games of the regular season but was clearly not 100% down the stretch of the season.
Ament said postgame that he does not believe he will need any surgeries following the season but that he will re-assess with Tennessee’s medical staff and make a decision from there. RTI asked Ament what percent he was health wise to close the season but he deflected and praised Michigan.
“I don’t want to give any excuses and say that I’ve been playing anything but 100%,” Ament said. “It definitely wasn’t the injury why I didn’t play well today. I just couldn’t get it done and I’m not going blame it on the injury. It’s all me. I didn’t do my job to the best of my ability.”
Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg was an extremely tough matchup for Ament and held him to just seven points on two-of-12 shooting from the field as he fouled out in 31 minutes of action.
Ament, who Tennessee’s coaches and players have frequently praised for his performances and character this season, was gracious discussing his freshman season following the game.
“It’s been everything,” Ament told RTI. “From the fans to my teammates to the coaching staff, I couldn’t ask for a better program or better fanbase. They have given me all they’ve had and I appreciate them so much. I just want them to know that I appreciate them.”
