Tennessee Freshman Nate Ament Named to Julius Erving Award Midseason Watch List
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Nate Ament’s breakout freshman campaign just earned another national nod. The 6-foot-10 Tennessee forward has been named to the Julius Erving Award Midseason Top 10 Watch List, placing him among the elite small forwards in college basketball this season.
The Julius Erving Award, now in its 12th year, honors the top small forward in Division I men’s hoops - and Ament’s inclusion is no fluke. He’s one of just three freshmen to crack the midseason list, joining BYU’s A.J.
Dybantsa and Baylor’s Tounde Yessoufou. That’s rare air, especially considering the physical and mental leap it takes to make an immediate impact at this level.
Ament’s doing it with poise, versatility, and a stat line that’s tough to ignore.
Let’s break it down: Through 22 games, Ament is averaging 17.1 points, a team-best 6.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.1 steals per contest. He leads the Vols in made free throws (124) and attempts (162), showing a knack for drawing contact and converting at the stripe.
He’s also second on the team in scoring, assists, made field goals (112), and made threes (28). That’s a full offensive toolkit - and he’s only getting sharper.
When SEC play kicked off, Ament didn’t blink. In conference action, he’s upped his game to 19.6 points, 5.7 boards, and 2.3 assists per night, shooting 44.8% from the field, 35.5% from deep, and 75.3% at the line. Those are numbers that scream consistency and growth - two things you love to see from a freshman navigating the grind of SEC basketball.
And the production isn’t just steady - it’s surging. Ament has scored at least 17 points in 13 games this season, including each of the last seven outings.
He’s cracked the 20-point mark seven times, with four of those coming in the last six games. The kid’s heating up at the right time.
It’s not just scoring, either. Ament’s been active on the glass, pulling down five or more rebounds in 19 games.
He’s hit seven or more boards 10 times, and gone for nine-plus in four games. Add in five games with at least four assists and eight with multiple steals, and you’re looking at a player who impacts every phase of the game.
His accolades back it up. Ament is the first player in Tennessee history to win SEC Freshman of the Week honors four times.
He’s also just the fourth Vols freshman ever to earn SEC Player of the Week. Beyond the Erving Award watch, he’s also on the midseason lists for both the Wooden Award and the Wayman Tisdale Award - more evidence that his name is being mentioned alongside the best in the country.
Tennessee, currently ranked No. 25 in the AP Poll and receiving votes in the Coaches Poll, sits at 16-6 overall and 6-3 in SEC play. The Vols are back in action Saturday night with a marquee matchup at Rupp Arena against Kentucky.
Tip-off is set for 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Ament’s rise has been one of the most compelling storylines of Tennessee’s season. He’s not just a promising freshman - he’s a driving force behind the Vols’ push in the SEC and a name to watch as awards season heats up.