Tennessee freshman Nate Ament is starting to look every bit like the player many expected when he arrived in Knoxville. After a quiet start to his college career, Ament has flipped the switch in SEC play, and over the last few weeks, he's been nothing short of electric. The 6’10” wing has found his rhythm, and more importantly, he’s found his confidence - and it’s showing up in the box score in a big way.
On the season, Ament is averaging 17.5 points per game, but that number doesn't tell the full story. Over his last six games, he's taken things to another level, averaging 23.8 points per contest.
That stretch includes two 29-point performances, a 28-point outing, and a 22-point game - the kind of scoring consistency that turns heads not just in the SEC, but across the NBA scouting landscape. Even before that run, he had a trio of strong games (17, 23, and 17 points), showing that this surge didn’t come out of nowhere - it’s been building.
What’s changed? Ament is playing with more purpose and aggression.
He’s hunting his shot with confidence, and he’s not hesitating to take over when the moment calls for it. That shift in mentality has transformed him from a talented freshman finding his way into a legitimate go-to scorer for a top-tier college program.
That rise hasn’t gone unnoticed. In a recent mock draft, Ament was projected to go eighth overall in the 2026 NBA Draft, landing with the Utah Jazz.
That would make him the highest-drafted SEC player in that projection - and it’s easy to see why. Over his last five games, he’s averaging 25.4 points and seven rebounds while shooting a scorching 50% from beyond the arc and 45.2% on two-point attempts.
The shooting numbers are impressive, but what really stands out is how comfortable he looks operating as a primary option.
Of course, there are still areas for growth. Scouts have noted he can sometimes settle for jumpers instead of attacking the rim, and finishing through contact remains a work in progress.
Adding strength and continuing to refine his handle and playmaking will be key as he prepares for the next level. But the raw tools - the size, the shooting stroke, the fluidity at 6’10” - are undeniable.
This is why he was a top-5 recruit coming into the season, and it’s why teams picking in the lottery will be watching him closely down the stretch.
Even when the numbers aren’t eye-popping, Ament is proving he can impact winning. In Tennessee’s recent win over Mississippi State, he finished with a relatively modest 16 points - his lowest output since early January - but the timing of those points told the real story.
After Mississippi State stormed back with an 18-0 run to cut Tennessee’s lead to five, it was Ament who stepped up and steadied the ship. He scored eight of the Vols’ final 10 points, including a pair of and-one finishes that swung the momentum back in Tennessee’s favor.
And he did it while playing through some noticeable physical discomfort.
“I thought coming down the stretch, you know he’s banged up a little bit,” head coach Rick Barnes said after the game. “I could tell he wasn’t moving the way he normally moves, but at the end, when we needed him, he came through.”
That’s the kind of performance that earns trust - from coaches, from teammates, and from NBA scouts. It’s not just about the highlight plays or the scoring totals.
It’s about showing up when the game is on the line, even when you’re not at 100%. That’s what separates good players from great ones.
Ament’s draft stock is already strong, but if he keeps this up - if he keeps stacking efficient scoring nights with clutch moments - he could climb even higher. There’s still time left in the season, and with Tennessee in the thick of the SEC race, the spotlight isn’t going anywhere. Neither is Nate Ament.