Three Tennessee Volunteers basketball players are projected to be selected in the 2026 NBA Draft, with Nate Ament expected to be the No. 10 overall pick to Milwaukee.
Key points
Three Tennessee Volunteers projected for 2026 NBA Draft
The NBA draft will be held June 23-24 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, consisting of two rounds and 60 picks. The first round is scheduled for June 23 (ABC/ESPN) and the second round will be held June 24 (ESPN).
Ament is projected as the No. 10 overall pick in the first round to Milwaukee.
Okpara is projected as the No. 54 overall pick in the second round to Golden State (via the Lakers), while Gillespie is projected as the final selection in the NBA draft to Washington, via Oklahoma City (No. 60 overall).
Okpara and Gillespie do not have college eligibility remaining, while Ament can return to Tennessee as a sophomore. A deadline for an early entry to withdraw from the NBA draft is June 13 at 5 p.m. EDT.
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March 27, 2026; Chicago, Illinois; Tennessee Volunteers forward Jaylen Carey (23) reacts in the second half against the Iowa State Cyclones during a Sweet Sixteen game of the Midwest Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at United Center.
Nate Heise #0 of the Iowa State Cyclones drives to the basket against Nate Ament #10 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the first half in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 27, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.
Head coach Rick Barnes of the Tennessee Volunteers speaks with Ja'kobi Gillespie #0 during the first half against the Iowa State Cyclones in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 27, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.
Ja'kobi Gillespie #0 of the Tennessee Volunteers attempts a pass against Milan Momcilovic #22 of the Iowa State Cyclones during the second half in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 27, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.
March 27, 2026; Chicago, Illinois; Tennessee Volunteers guard Ethan Burg (35) reacts in the second half against the Iowa State Cyclones during a Sweet Sixteen game of the Midwest Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at United Center.
March 27, 2026; Chicago, Illinois; Tennessee Volunteers forward Felix Okpara (34) reacts in the second half against the Iowa State Cyclones during a Sweet Sixteen game of the Midwest Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at United Center.
March 27, 2026; Chicago, Illinois; Tennessee Volunteers guard Bishop Boswell (3) reacts in this second half against the Iowa State Cyclones during a Sweet Sixteen game of the Midwest Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at United Center.
March 27, 2026; Chicago, Illinois; Tennessee Volunteers guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie (0) reacts in the second half against the Iowa State Cyclones during a Sweet Sixteen game of the Midwest Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at United Center.
Tamin Lipsey #3 of the Iowa State Cyclones is defended by Bishop Boswell #3 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the first half in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 27, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.
Bishop Boswell #3 of the Tennessee Volunteers is defended by Nate Heise #0 of the Iowa State Cyclones during the first half in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 27, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.
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PHOTOS: Tennessee basketball versus Iowa State in 2026 Sweet 16
March 27, 2026; Chicago, Illinois; Tennessee Volunteers forward Jaylen Carey (23) reacts in the second half against the Iowa State Cyclones during a Sweet Sixteen game of the Midwest Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at United Center.
1 / 10
PHOTOS: Tennessee basketball versus Iowa State in 2026 Sweet 16
March 27, 2026; Chicago, Illinois; Tennessee Volunteers forward Jaylen Carey (23) reacts in the second half against the Iowa State Cyclones during a Sweet Sixteen game of the Midwest Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at United Center.
2 / 10
PHOTOS: Tennessee basketball versus Iowa State in 2026 Sweet 16
Nate Heise #0 of the Iowa State Cyclones drives to the basket against Nate Ament #10 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the first half in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 27, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.
3 / 10
PHOTOS: Tennessee basketball versus Iowa State in 2026 Sweet 16
Head coach Rick Barnes of the Tennessee Volunteers speaks with Ja'kobi Gillespie #0 during the first half against the Iowa State Cyclones in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 27, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.
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PHOTOS: Tennessee basketball versus Iowa State in 2026 Sweet 16
Ja'kobi Gillespie #0 of the Tennessee Volunteers attempts a pass against Milan Momcilovic #22 of the Iowa State Cyclones during the second half in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 27, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.
5 / 10
PHOTOS: Tennessee basketball versus Iowa State in 2026 Sweet 16
March 27, 2026; Chicago, Illinois; Tennessee Volunteers guard Ethan Burg (35) reacts in the second half against the Iowa State Cyclones during a Sweet Sixteen game of the Midwest Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at United Center.
6 / 10
PHOTOS: Tennessee basketball versus Iowa State in 2026 Sweet 16
March 27, 2026; Chicago, Illinois; Tennessee Volunteers forward Felix Okpara (34) reacts in the second half against the Iowa State Cyclones during a Sweet Sixteen game of the Midwest Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at United Center.
7 / 10
PHOTOS: Tennessee basketball versus Iowa State in 2026 Sweet 16
March 27, 2026; Chicago, Illinois; Tennessee Volunteers guard Bishop Boswell (3) reacts in this second half against the Iowa State Cyclones during a Sweet Sixteen game of the Midwest Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at United Center.
8 / 10
PHOTOS: Tennessee basketball versus Iowa State in 2026 Sweet 16
March 27, 2026; Chicago, Illinois; Tennessee Volunteers guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie (0) reacts in the second half against the Iowa State Cyclones during a Sweet Sixteen game of the Midwest Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at United Center.
9 / 10
PHOTOS: Tennessee basketball versus Iowa State in 2026 Sweet 16
Tamin Lipsey #3 of the Iowa State Cyclones is defended by Bishop Boswell #3 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the first half in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 27, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.
10 / 10
PHOTOS: Tennessee basketball versus Iowa State in 2026 Sweet 16
Bishop Boswell #3 of the Tennessee Volunteers is defended by Nate Heise #0 of the Iowa State Cyclones during the first half in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 27, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.
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