Tennessee Freshman Nate Ament Named to Tisdale Award Midseason Watch List
There’s a new name making waves in Knoxville, and it’s not just within SEC circles-it’s across the entire college basketball landscape. Tennessee freshman forward Nate Ament has been named to the midseason watch list for the Wayman Tisdale Award, which honors the nation’s top freshman. And based on what he’s done through the first half of the season, it’s no surprise he’s in the conversation.
Ament is one of just 15 players nationwide to make the cut, and one of only two from the SEC, joining Arkansas standout Darius Acuff Jr. That’s elite company, and it speaks volumes about the impact Ament has had in his first season with the Vols.
Since its inception in the 1988-89 season, the Tisdale Award-named after Oklahoma legend Wayman Tisdale-has recognized the top freshman in men’s college basketball. The USBWA (United States Basketball Writers Association) votes on the honor at the end of the regular season, and this year’s class is shaping up to be one of the deepest in recent memory.
“This might be the best group of first-year players in the history of college basketball,” said USBWA President Matt Norlander. “We had more than 25 freshmen receive votes. That tells you just how stacked this class is.”
But even in a loaded field, Ament’s numbers jump off the page. He’s averaging 15.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. That’s not just solid for a freshman-that’s production that would stand out on any roster in the country.
He co-leads Tennessee in rebounds and free throws made (86), and he’s second on the team in points, assists, steals, field goals (78), and three-pointers (19). The 6-foot-10 forward from Manassas, Virginia, has already proven he can contribute in a variety of ways, and he’s doing it consistently.
Ament has scored at least 15 points and grabbed four or more rebounds in 10 of his 17 games this season. He’s hit the 18-point, seven-rebound mark six times and has already notched four 20-point performances-three of those coming against Power Five opponents. That’s big-time production against big-time competition.
And it’s not just the scoring. Ament’s versatility has been on full display.
He’s recorded at least five rebounds in 14 games and has pulled down seven or more boards in eight of them. He’s dished out four or more assists in four different games-including two with five-and has tallied multiple steals in seven contests, with two games featuring four takeaways.
That kind of all-around impact is rare for a freshman, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed. Ament has already earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors three times this season and was recently named to the Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 Watch List-one of just nine freshmen to make that cut. He was also picked as a Preseason Second Team All-SEC selection by both the media and the coaches.
Tennessee, currently ranked No. 24 in the AP poll and receiving votes in the coaches poll, sits at 12-5 overall and 2-2 in SEC play. The Vols will look to build on their momentum this Saturday in a marquee matchup against Kentucky at the Food City Center, with tipoff set for noon on ESPN.
Ament’s rise has been one of the bright spots in an already intriguing season for Tennessee. And if his first 17 games are any indication, he’s just getting started.
Wayman Tisdale Award Midseason Watch List
- Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas
- Nate Ament, Tennessee
- Cameron Boozer, Duke
- Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville
- Brayden Burries, Arizona
- Thijs De Ridder, Virginia
- A.J.
Dybantsa, BYU
- Kingston Flemings, Houston
- Braylon Mullins, Connecticut
- Ebuka Okorie, Stanford
- Koa Peat, Arizona
- Darryn Peterson, Kansas
- Hannes Steinbach, Washington
- Keaton Wagler, Illinois
- Caleb Wilson, North Carolina
Eyes are on Ament-and with good reason. He’s not just one of the best freshmen in the SEC. Right now, he’s one of the best in the country.