Nate Ament’s game is catching up to his potential - and fast. The 6-foot-10 Tennessee freshman was always considered a high-upside prospect, but over the past few weeks, he’s started playing like the NBA lottery pick many projected him to be. And if the last four games are any indication, he’s not just flashing promise - he’s producing like a star.
Let’s rewind a bit. When the Volunteers hosted Kentucky back on January 17, Ament was solid but far from dominant.
He scored 17 points in 35 minutes, but he only took seven shots - his second-fewest attempts in SEC play this season. The Wildcats kept him quiet early, holding him to just three points in the first half.
He found a rhythm after the break, pouring in 14 second-half points, but it wasn’t enough to stop Kentucky from storming back for a 17-point comeback win.
That game felt like a turning point. Before that, Ament’s season had been a mixed bag.
There were questions - fair ones - about how his game would translate to the next level. He had some rough outings against top-tier competition like Houston, Illinois, and Texas, and his shooting percentages weren’t exactly lighting up the draft boards (41.8% from the field, 31.1% from three).
But since that Kentucky loss, something’s clicked.
In the four games since, Ament has looked like a different player - or maybe the player everyone hoped he’d become. He’s averaging 24.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists while playing nearly the entire game (36.5 minutes per).
He’s shooting 43.5% from the floor and a scorching 44.4% from deep on 4.5 attempts per game. And he’s been relentless getting to the free throw line, averaging nearly 10 attempts per game and hitting 76.9% of them.
That kind of production isn’t just eye-catching - it’s game-changing. Tennessee hasn’t lost since that collapse against Kentucky, and they’ve picked up some big wins along the way, including tough road victories over Alabama and Georgia in overtime. Ament’s surge has elevated the entire offense, and the Vols are playing with a new level of confidence.
According to head coach Rick Barnes, it’s not just about scoring - it’s about understanding the game on a deeper level.
“I think he’s seeing it different, I think that’s the biggest thing,” Barnes said Friday. “He’s a terrific passer, good in ball screens.
I think that he was anxious to score the ball, probably more so, and he’s so much more than that. He can obviously shoot the ball, score the ball, but he’s starting to understand all the other parts of the game.”
That evolution - from scorer to complete player - is what separates the good freshmen from the great ones. Ament isn’t forcing the issue anymore.
He’s letting the game come to him, picking his spots, and making the right reads. His instincts are sharpening, and it’s showing up in the box score and the win column.
Barnes added: “I think one of the toughest things is when players go into the game thinking, ‘I got to make shots,’ as opposed to going in thinking, ‘I got to play the game. I’ve got to do what the scout report says on both ends of the court.’”
That shift in mindset - from shot-hunter to game-executor - has been key. And it’s not unusual for a freshman, especially one with Ament’s physical tools and skillset, to take a leap midseason. The difference here is how quickly it’s happening - and how impactful it’s been.
Now, the question becomes: can Kentucky do it again?
The Wildcats had the blueprint to slow Ament down once. They’ll get another crack at it Saturday night in Rupp Arena (8:30 p.m.
ET | ESPN), but this time, they’re facing a player who’s not just more confident - he’s more complete. Ament is playing the best basketball of his young career, and if he keeps trending this way, the lottery talk won’t just be a projection.
It’ll be a certainty.