Nate Ament Claims Fifth SEC Freshman of the Week Honor, Continues to Raise the Bar in Knoxville
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - At this point, it’s becoming routine - but make no mistake, what Nate Ament is doing for Tennessee men’s basketball is anything but ordinary.
For the fifth time this season, the 6-foot-10 freshman forward has been named the SEC Freshman of the Week. That’s not just a nod to consistency - it’s a testament to dominance. Ament, who’s already picked up SEC Player of the Week honors once this year, now has six total weekly conference awards to his name in the 2025-26 campaign.
And he’s earning every bit of it.
Last week, Ament was electric. He averaged 28.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists across two games, shooting an eye-popping 59.4% from the field.
He was equally efficient from deep (60.0%) and nearly automatic at the line (81.3%). Those numbers aren’t just good for a freshman - they’re elite by any standard.
His week started with a statement performance against Ole Miss. Tennessee rolled to an 84-66 win at home, and Ament was the engine behind it.
After a quiet first half, he exploded for 26 of his 28 points in the second - the most by a Volunteer in a single half since Dalton Knecht’s outburst back in February 2024. He finished 9-of-15 from the floor, 2-of-4 from three, and 8-of-10 at the stripe, adding six boards and four assists to round out a complete performance.
Then came the showdown at Rupp Arena - one of college basketball’s most storied venues - and Ament didn’t blink. He dropped 29 points, tying his career high, in a narrow 74-71 loss to Kentucky.
He went 10-of-17 from the field, 4-of-6 from beyond the arc, and 5-of-6 at the line. Nineteen of those points came in the first half, all within the final 10 minutes of the period - a stretch that showcased just how quickly he can take over a game.
Add it all up, and Ament scored 45 points across two halves of basketball - a scorching stretch that’s turning heads across the SEC and beyond.
And if you’re wondering how rare that kind of performance is, here’s some historical context: Ament’s 29-point outing at Kentucky was the most by a visiting freshman at Rupp Arena in nearly 36 years. The last to do it? Auburn’s Ronnie Battle, who dropped 30 back in February 1990.
This isn’t just a hot streak. Ament has now scored 20 or more points in eight games this season - five of those coming in the last seven contests, and three in a row. He’s not just growing into the college game; he’s thriving in it.
His five SEC Freshman of the Week honors are already the most in Tennessee program history, surpassing the previous high of three held by Tobias Harris (2010-11) and Ramar Smith (2006-07). And with a month left in the regular season, there’s still time for him to add to that total.
For Tennessee, Ament’s emergence couldn’t come at a better time. The Volunteers, now 16-7 overall and 6-4 in SEC play, are fighting for position in a tightly packed conference race.
They’ll be back in action Wednesday night in Starkville, where they’ll face Mississippi State at Humphrey Coliseum (9 p.m. ET, ESPN2).
Whether it’s the scoring, the efficiency, or the poise under pressure, Nate Ament is showing week after week that he’s not just one of the best freshmen in the SEC - he’s one of the best players, period.