Three Tennessee basketball players, Nate Ament, Felix Okpara, and Ja'Kobi Gillespie, have been invited to the NBA draft combine in Chicago from May 10-17. Ament is ranked as the No. 8 best available player for the NBA draft.
Key points
Three Tennessee basketball players invited to NBA draft combine
Event scheduled for May 10-17 in Chicago, Illinois
Nate Ament ranked No. 8 best available player for NBA draft
Felix Okpara and Ja'Kobi Gillespie lack college eligibility
Ament can return to Tennessee as a sophomore
Mentioned in this story
Chicago
TennesseeNate AmentFelix OkparaJa'Kobi Gillespie
Three Vols invited to NBA draft combine
Three Tennessee basketball players were invited to the AWS NBA draft combine. The event will take place May 10-17 at Wintrust Arena and the Marriott Marquis in Chicago, Illinois.
Nate Ament, Felix Okpara and Ja'Kobi Gillespie were invited to the event. Okpara and Gillespie do not have college eligibility remaining, while Ament can return to Tennessee as a sophomore.
Ament is listed as the No. 8 best available player for the NBA draft, according to ESPN.
The 2026 NBA draft will take place June 23-24 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
A deadline for an early entry to withdraw from the NBA draft is June 13 at 5 p.m. EDT. The NBA draft first round is scheduled for June 23 (ABC/ESPN) and the second round will be held June 24 (ESPN).
The NBA draft lottery will also be held on May 10.
March 22, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers guard Ja'kobi Gillespie (0) makes a pass against the Virginia Cavaliers in the first half during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Q&A
Who are the Tennessee players invited to the NBA draft combine?
The invited players are Nate Ament, Felix Okpara, and Ja'Kobi Gillespie.
When and where is the NBA draft combine taking place?
The NBA draft combine will take place from May 10-17 at Wintrust Arena and the Marriott Marquis in Chicago, Illinois.
What is Nate Ament's ranking for the NBA draft?
Nate Ament is listed as the No. 8 best available player for the NBA draft according to ESPN.
Do Felix Okpara and Ja'Kobi Gillespie have college eligibility remaining?
No, both Felix Okpara and Ja'Kobi Gillespie do not have college eligibility remaining.
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March 22, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers forward Nate Ament (10) dribbles the ball against the Virginia Cavaliers in the first half during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
March 22, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers forward Jaylen Carey (23) shoots a free throw against the Virginia Cavaliers in the first half during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
March 22, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers forward Nate Ament (10) dribbles the ball against Virginia Cavaliers center Ugonna Onyenso (33) in the first half during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
March 22, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers forward Nate Ament (10) dribbles the ball against Virginia Cavaliers guard Malik Thomas (1) in the first half during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
March 22, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA;Tennessee Volunteers guard Amari Evans (1) makes a pass against Virginia Cavaliers guard Dallin Hall (30) in the first half during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
March 22, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers guard Bishop Boswell (3) shoots the ball against Virginia Cavaliers guard Jacari White (6) in the first half during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
March 22, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA;Tennessee Volunteers head coach Rick Barnes reacts after defeating Virginia Cavaliers during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Tennessee Volunteers head coach Rick Barnes reacts during the second half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 22, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Tennessee Volunteers head coach Rick Barnes and Nate Ament #10 of the Tennessee Volunteers high five during the second half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 22, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
1 / 10
PHOTOS: Tennessee basketball versus Virginia in NCAA Tournament
March 22, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers guard Ja'kobi Gillespie (0) makes a pass against the Virginia Cavaliers in the first half during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
1 / 10
PHOTOS: Tennessee basketball versus Virginia in NCAA Tournament
March 22, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers guard Ja'kobi Gillespie (0) makes a pass against the Virginia Cavaliers in the first half during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
2 / 10
PHOTOS: Tennessee basketball versus Virginia in NCAA Tournament
March 22, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers forward Nate Ament (10) dribbles the ball against the Virginia Cavaliers in the first half during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
3 / 10
PHOTOS: Tennessee basketball versus Virginia in NCAA Tournament
March 22, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers forward Jaylen Carey (23) shoots a free throw against the Virginia Cavaliers in the first half during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
4 / 10
PHOTOS: Tennessee basketball versus Virginia in NCAA Tournament
March 22, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers forward Nate Ament (10) dribbles the ball against Virginia Cavaliers center Ugonna Onyenso (33) in the first half during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
5 / 10
PHOTOS: Tennessee basketball versus Virginia in NCAA Tournament
March 22, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers forward Nate Ament (10) dribbles the ball against Virginia Cavaliers guard Malik Thomas (1) in the first half during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
6 / 10
PHOTOS: Tennessee basketball versus Virginia in NCAA Tournament
March 22, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA;Tennessee Volunteers guard Amari Evans (1) makes a pass against Virginia Cavaliers guard Dallin Hall (30) in the first half during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
7 / 10
PHOTOS: Tennessee basketball versus Virginia in NCAA Tournament
March 22, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers guard Bishop Boswell (3) shoots the ball against Virginia Cavaliers guard Jacari White (6) in the first half during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
8 / 10
PHOTOS: Tennessee basketball versus Virginia in NCAA Tournament
March 22, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA;Tennessee Volunteers head coach Rick Barnes reacts after defeating Virginia Cavaliers during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
9 / 10
PHOTOS: Tennessee basketball versus Virginia in NCAA Tournament
Tennessee Volunteers head coach Rick Barnes reacts during the second half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 22, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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Nate Ament projected as No. 18 overall pick in NBA draft
Tennessee Volunteers head coach Rick Barnes and Nate Ament #10 of the Tennessee Volunteers high five during the second half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 22, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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