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Tennessee forward Nate Ament declares for 2026 NBA Draft
TL;DR
Tennessee forward Nate Ament has declared for the 2026 NBA Draft, opting to forgo his remaining college eligibility. He was the Volunteers' second-leading scorer, averaging 16.7 points per game last season.
Key points
- Nate Ament declares for the 2026 NBA Draft
- He averaged 16.7 points per game this season
- Projected to be picked No. 18 by the Charlotte Hornets
Nate AmentTennessee VolunteersCharlotte Hornets
Tennessee freshman forward Nate Ament will forgo his final three years of college basketball eligibility and declare for the 2026 NBA Draft. He made the announcement in a post to his Instagram account on Thursday, one day before the deadline to declare.
Ament, 6-foot-10, was the Volunteers’ second-leading scorer this past season, averaging 16.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. He also shot 33% on 3-point attempts.
“I want to dedicate this post to my Vol family,” Ament wrote for his Instagram post. “Your guys love and support is a huge reason I have this opportunity. It’s because of you guys that I was able to grow. Y’all stuck with me through the bad games and the good.”
“I promise to always represent the Vols with the utmost pride,” he added. “This University means more to me than just basketball — to me it’s a place I call home. I might’ve only been here a year but I’ll remember this year for the rest of my life.”
The draft projections on Ament vary, with him possibly being among the top 14 lottery selections or falling outside that range but still being a first-round pick.
Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Conner has Ament being picked with the No. 18 overall selection in his mock draft, which would have him going to the Charlotte Hornets. Yet O’Connor also acknowledged that Ament may have benefited from returning to Knoxville for another season.
“Players who can handle, shoot off the dribble and stand at 6-10 don’t grow on trees. This physical foundation kept Ament in lottery consideration even after a dreadful start to his freshman season when he struggled to score efficiently and make an impact defensively. But over the second half of the year for Tennessee, he flipped a switch and shots began to fall. He averaged 23.8 points over a six-game stretch in January and February that reminded everyone why he was a top recruit in the country. Then he dealt with an ankle injury that ruined his momentum entering March.”
Ament came to Knoxville as a five-star recruit out of Highland School in Manassas, Virginia. He was rated as and the No. 2 small forward.
Q&A
What are Nate Ament's stats from his freshman year at Tennessee?
Nate Ament averaged 16.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game during his freshman season.
Which NBA team is projected to draft Nate Ament?
Nate Ament is projected to be selected by the Charlotte Hornets with the No. 18 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Why did Nate Ament decide to declare for the NBA Draft?
Nate Ament declared for the NBA Draft to pursue professional opportunities, expressing gratitude for his time at Tennessee and the support from his teammates and fans.
