Tennessee freshman Nate Ament came into the college basketball season with the kind of buzz that usually follows a future NBA lottery pick. And while his early-season play didn’t quite match the sky-high expectations, he’s found his stride in SEC play-and now he’s turning heads again in a big way.
The 6-foot-8 wing has been electric over the last few weeks, putting together a string of performances that have him climbing back up draft boards. Over his last four games, Ament is averaging 24.5 points per game, and Tennessee is undefeated in that stretch.
That’s not a coincidence. Ament’s offensive surge has been a driving force behind the Vols’ recent success, and it’s the kind of production that NBA scouts take notice of-especially when it comes against high-level SEC competition.
On the season, Ament is putting up 17.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game across 22 appearances. But those numbers only tell part of the story.
What’s more important is the trend: he’s averaging 22.1 points over his last seven games, with that number jumping to 24.5 over the last four. That includes a 28-point outburst against Ole Miss in Knoxville-a game that showcased his full offensive arsenal.
He’s showing more confidence in his shot, better decision-making with the ball, and a growing comfort in Tennessee’s system. Simply put, Ament looks like a player who’s figuring it out at the right time.
That rise in form is starting to reflect in mock drafts. ESPN’s most recent projection, published on January 13, had Ament slotted at No. 7 overall to the Charlotte Hornets.
USA Today’s mock draft from January 29 had him going 14th to the San Antonio Spurs. But both of those mocks came before his recent scoring outburst, and if he keeps this pace up, don’t be surprised to see his name trending even higher in the next round of projections.
To get a sense of where he might land, we ran ten simulations of the NBA Draft order using Tankathon, a site that generates draft positions based on current standings and lottery odds. Since Tankathon locks players to specific rankings-Ament is currently listed as the No. 9 prospect-he consistently landed with the team in that slot. Across the ten simulations, the Memphis Grizzlies, Milwaukee Bucks, and Dallas Mavericks were the teams most frequently in that ninth spot, with Memphis showing up most often.
Here’s how it broke down:
- Memphis Grizzlies: 5 times
- Milwaukee Bucks: 3 times
- Dallas Mavericks: 2 times
It actually took 16 total simulations to get a team outside of those three, with the Oklahoma City Thunder finally popping up thanks to a pick via the Utah Jazz.
Now, let’s talk fit-because that’s where things get interesting. Tennessee fans have long dreamed of seeing one of their own land with the in-state Grizzlies.
Memphis did take Vols guard Jahmai Mashack in the second round last year, but he’s had limited playing time in his rookie season. Ament, though, would be a different story.
He’s a top-10 talent with the kind of two-way upside that could make an immediate impact. If Memphis ends up with a lottery pick and Ament is still on the board, don’t be surprised if that connection becomes a real storyline come draft night.
Of course, there’s still plenty of basketball left to be played. But what we’re seeing from Nate Ament right now is what scouts hoped to see all along: a dynamic wing who can score at all three levels, rebound, and defend multiple positions. He’s playing his best basketball when it matters most, and that’s how prospects separate themselves in the eyes of NBA decision-makers.
If Ament keeps this up, he won’t just be a lottery pick-he could be one of the first names called on draft night.