The Miami Heat are navigating a rough patch, and it might just land them in the NBA lottery. This year’s draft class is buzzing with talent, featuring potential stars like Darryn Peterson, A.J.
Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, and Caleb Wilson. These guys are expected to be snapped up quickly, but the talent pool runs deep beyond them.
With the NCAA tournament heating up, Bleacher Report has dropped its latest mock draft. They’ve got Miami picking at No. 14, the last spot in the lottery, and they’re eyeing Tennessee’s forward, Nate Ament.
At 19, Ament is drawing comparisons to Atlanta Hawks’ Zaccharie Risacher, who was the top pick in 2024. Risacher has faced his share of challenges in the league.
Ament’s game is evolving. Before an ankle injury, he was becoming a more confident scorer, finding his spots, elevating in traffic, and confidently stepping into threes.
At 6'10", his ability to shoot, dribble, and pass is a hot commodity. He’s not just a scorer, either-he’s averaging 2.5 assists and showing versatility with 12 made field goals across various offensive situations.
Plus, he’s getting to the free-throw line consistently.
Still battling in the NCAA tournament, Ament’s season stats shine: 16.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. He entered college as a five-star recruit, ranked No. 4 by ESPN.
Critics question if Ament’s shooting can compensate for concerns about his explosiveness and strength, which affect his ability to finish plays. Despite recent improvements, he’s hitting just 51.3 percent on layups in conference play. Yet, his ability to create and release shots cleanly, thanks to his height and technique, makes him an intriguing prospect.