The breakout is officially on. Nate Ament, Tennessee’s five-star freshman forward, is turning heads-and not just in Knoxville.
After a rocky start to the season, Ament has flipped the switch in a major way, emerging as one of the most dynamic freshmen in the country. And if you ask Rick Barnes, he’s not just in the conversation-he is the conversation.
“I really don’t care what anybody says, I wouldn’t trade Nate for anybody in the country,” Barnes said after Ament dropped 28 points, six rebounds, and four assists on 9-of-15 shooting in an 84-66 win over Ole Miss. That’s not just coach-speak. That’s a coach putting his flag in the ground.
And honestly? Barnes has a case.
Ament’s performance Tuesday night was the latest in a growing string of high-level outings. That was his fourth 20-point game in Tennessee’s last six, and he came just one point shy of matching the career-high he set against Alabama less than two weeks ago.
The 6-foot-10 forward did more than just fill up the box score-he took over the second half. Whether it was knocking down threes, hitting tough mid-range jumpers, or finishing through traffic at the rim, Ament showed off the full offensive package.
We’re talking about a true three-level scorer with size, touch, and body control. That’s a rare blend, and it’s coming together at the right time for a Tennessee team that needs a go-to guy heading into the teeth of SEC play.
Now, let’s be real: the national Player of the Year race is stacked. Even among this year’s loaded freshman class, Ament’s name hasn’t quite cracked the top tier.
But if he keeps playing like this, that might change. Barnes has leaned on veteran scorers like Dalton Knecht and Chaz Lanier in recent years to carry the offense through February and March.
This season, it’s Ament’s turn-and he’s starting to look ready for that responsibility.
So let’s entertain the hypothetical: if Barnes could trade Ament for another freshman in the country, should he?
Positionally, Tennessee is set at point guard with Ja’Kobi Gillespie, so we’re not talking about swapping Ament for a floor general. What the Vols need is exactly what Ament is becoming-a wing or forward who can create his own shot, stretch the floor, and carry the scoring load in big moments.
Since his breakout began with a 23-point performance in a double-overtime win over Texas A&M, Ament has been one of the most productive scorers in the country. Over his last five games, only 10 players nationwide are averaging more than his 23 points per game.
And when you filter that list down to efficiency and usage rate, only a few names stand out-Milan Momcilovic, Dailyn Swaim, and Illinois freshman Keaton Wagler. Of those, Wagler is the only freshman doing it with less usage than Ament.
Still, there’s room for growth. Among the 11 players averaging 23+ over that span, Ament ranks ninth in effective field goal percentage.
Only PJ Haggerty and fellow freshman AJ Dybantsa are lower. That tells us Ament is scoring a lot, but he’s still working on getting there more efficiently.
That’s the next step if he wants to be the guy Barnes believes he is.
Now, back to the hypothetical trade. If you’re Rick Barnes and someone offers you one of these freshmen, do you even think about it?
- Cameron Boozer (Duke) - A polished, versatile forward with a high ceiling and strong pedigree.
- AJ Dybantsa (BYU) - One of the most explosive scorers in the class.
- Darryn Peterson (Kansas) - A dynamic guard with elite upside, though he’s been dealing with injuries.
- Keaton Wagler (Illinois) - Efficient, productive, and performing at a high level on a big stage.
Notably absent from that list: Caleb Wilson (UNC), Kingston Flemings (Houston), and Darius Acuff (Arkansas). All three are talented, but Wilson doesn’t quite fit the shot-creator mold Tennessee needs. Flemings and Acuff are more backcourt-oriented and might overlap too much with Gillespie’s role.
Peterson is a bit of a wild card due to his injury history, but his upside is undeniable. Still, Ament’s ceiling is right there with him.
He came into the season as the No. 4 prospect in his class, behind only Dybantsa, Peterson, and Boozer. And right now, he’s playing like someone determined to reclaim that status.
If this version of Nate Ament is here to stay, Barnes might not just be hyping up his guy-he might be right. The list of players you’d trade him for is shrinking by the week.