Top-5 Class of '25 recruit Ament commits to Vols

Nate Ament, a top-five recruit and the best available high school prospect in the 2025 class, committed to Tennessee, he told ESPN on Sunday.

"Coach (Rick) Barnes sees me as a one-and-done type player," Ament said. "He has done it before with Kevin Durant. He sees me as that kind of guy for his program. I built a great relationship with the coaching staff. I trust them a lot, and they have big goals for me. I think they'll do a great job of developing me as a player and a young man. I trust the coaches to help me get to the next level."

Ament, a 6-foot-10 wing from Manassas, Virginia, picked the Volunteers over Duke, Kentucky, Arkansas, Louisville, and others.

"This was a very hard decision," Ament said. "It took me a little longer than most. I wanted to make sure it was the right fit. I could have gone to any of the five finalists. Or even to schools outside the finalists. Ultimately, I felt like this was the best place for me and my family, and the coaching staff was the best fit for me. I was looking at the transfer portal and rosters for next season, asking myself how I would fit with teammates? How much can I trust the coaches I am talking to? What goals do they have, and do they align with mine?"

Ament, ESPN's No. 4 prospect in the class of 2025, was named a McDonald's All-American after helping Highland High School to a 42-8 record and a VISAA Division 1 Championship, winning Virginia boys basketball Gatorade Player of the Year honors.

A relative unknown 18 months ago, Ament has been on an impressive trajectory since, skyrocketing in recruiting rankings following outstanding showings on the high school and grassroots circuits in the spring and summer of 2024, including debuting with USA Basketball, winning a gold medal at the FIBA Americas U18 Championship.

"Seventeen-18 months ago, if you told me I'd be where I am now, I wouldn't have believed you," Ament said. "Having the confidence to truly believe I'm one of the best players in the country was the most important part. It wasn't about height or strength, it was about putting the training I've been given to use."

Adding an inch in the past year, and likely still having significant room to grow in both stature and frame, NBA scouts are enamored with the long-term upside and overall talent Ament possesses at 6-foot-10, with guard skills and the ability to defend all over the floor.

With his high release point and diverse shot-making prowess coming off screens or pulling up off the dribble, Ament can get his jumper off whenever he pleases and is fluid getting to spots on the floor and finding teammates unselfishly on the move. He's made a significant jump in the past year with his ball-handling, passing, physicality and defensive intensity, and will likely continue to do so in the lead-up to the 2026 draft, where he's projected to be a top-five pick.

"My upbringing has been everything for me," Ament said. "My parents raised me to be kind, loving, humble, caring, and super competitive. Seeing all the dedication and hard work my mom has put in, with all the suffering she's faced, motivates me even more. She worked so hard to put food on the table, and I love her so much for it, giving me a great life as a kid. My three older brothers pushed me every day to want to win in everything I do."