The Tennessee Volunteers are building one of the top transfer portal classes in college basketball this offseason — and now they may be on the verge of landing a major high school prospect as well, edging out blue-blood programs like Duke and Kentucky.
Five-star power forward Nate Ament, ranked as the No. 4 player in the country by 247Sports, is nearing his college decision. While Duke, Kentucky, and Arkansas have all been in the mix, Tennessee has reportedly emerged as the new favorite.
According to a recent update from 247Sports, the Volunteers are now projected to win the battle for Ament’s commitment — a huge potential boost to a 2025 recruiting class currently ranked 41st in the country. That class already features four-stars Amari Evans (guard) and DeWayne Brown (center).
Standing 6-foot-9, Ament may be steering away from Duke after the Blue Devils secured a commitment from top-ranked power forward Cameron Boozer. Tennessee, meanwhile, could be a better fit for Ament’s development path, as Rick Barnes’ program has found success with multi-year players and veteran transfers.
Ament announced his top five schools back in February, with Arkansas widely seen as the early favorite. He visited Fayetteville in March, and many believed John Calipari’s program had the edge — until now.
If Ament does choose Tennessee, he would rank among the most highly touted recruits in school history, alongside names like Tobias Harris, Kennedy Chandler, and Scotty Hopson. It’s rare for Rick Barnes to go all-in on a five-star recruit, but it’s clear the Vols are making a serious push to bring Ament to Knoxville.
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