Tennessee freshman Nate Ament is starting to make this whole “Freshman of the Week” thing look routine - and that’s no small feat in the SEC. For the third time in just four weeks, Ament has earned the conference’s Freshman of the Week honors, a testament to the kind of impact he’s making right out of the gate. This time, he shares the spotlight with Alabama’s Amari Allen, but there’s no mistaking Ament’s growing presence in the college hoops landscape.
The recognition comes on the heels of a strong showing at the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas, where Ament put together a well-rounded three-game stretch. He averaged 16.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.3 steals - solid numbers that reflect not just scoring ability, but a complete game. Tennessee knocked off Rutgers and Houston before falling to Kansas, finishing fourth in the event, but Ament’s consistency stood out across all three matchups.
This latest honor adds to a growing résumé that’s already starting to etch Ament’s name into Tennessee basketball lore. Since the SEC reinstated the Freshman of the Week award in 2005-06, a Vol has now claimed it 25 times - and 13 of those have come during Rick Barnes’ tenure. That’s not just a stat; that’s a reflection of how Barnes continues to develop young talent and give them the platform to shine early.
Ament now joins an exclusive club of Tennessee players who’ve won the award three times in a single season. Only two others have done it before him: Tobias Harris during the 2010-11 campaign and Ramar Smith back in 2006-07. That’s elite company, and Ament’s only just getting started.
The Vols now turn their attention to a tough stretch that should offer even more insight into where this team stands heading into SEC play. After wrapping up a five-game run of buy games - which, let’s be honest, didn’t exactly thrill everyone - Tennessee hits the road for a marquee matchup at Syracuse in the ACC/SEC Challenge.
That one tips off Tuesday night at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
From there, it’s a neutral-site showdown with Illinois in Nashville, followed by a home date against Louisville.
Ament’s early-season dominance is no fluke. He’s producing, he’s competing, and he’s helping Tennessee navigate a challenging non-conference slate. If he keeps this up, the Vols might have more than just weekly honors to celebrate by season’s end.