Five-Star Plus+ forward Nate Ament commits to Tennessee Volunteers

Manassas (Va.) Highland Five-Star Plus+ forward Nate Ament has committed to Tennessee.

The 6’9, 185-pounder chose the Volunteers over Arkansas, Duke, Louisville and dozens of other programs, giving Rick Barnes and his staff on their biggest recruiting wins in recent memory.

Ament is coming off a senior season where he led Highland to a 42-7 record and the VISAA Division I state title with averages of 19.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. He was also named a McDonald’s All-American and was one of the top performers all week at the event, according to On3 National Recruiting Analyst Jamie Shaw.

His breakout performance came over the summer though, where he took the adidas 3SSB circuit by storm. In 13 games, he poured 15.4 points, 6.4 rebounds. 1.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 47% from the field, 42% from the 3-point line, and 90% at the charity stripe.

He joins a Vols recruiting class that already features four-star guard Amari Evans, four-star center Dewayne Brown and three-star point guard Troy Henderson.

Nate Ament Scouting Report

Shaw recently wrote this about Ament after his stellar week at the McDonald’s All-American practices and showcase game:

“Every bit of 6-foot-9, and possibly pushing 6-foot-10, Ament consistently puts the defense at a disadvantage when the ball is in his hands. There is not anyone like him at the top of this class, given his size, toughness, and skill set.

… Whereas someone like AJ Dybtantsa is much more powerful with his moves toward the rim, able to plant his foot, get downhill, and finish through you, Ament utilizes his pace and craft along with his length. Ament has a soft touch with shooting range that extends beyond the three-point arc. He is most comfortable with the ball in his hands, facing the basket, and being asked to create. He is good in the high and mid post areas, especially when in iso- situations. Ament is also an adept passer, able to play as the primary in the pick-and-roll and spray passes on target and on time, or finish at varying levels of the court. While Ament is going to need to continue adding weight, the physicality bumped him off his spots numerous times throughout this week. He is not soft by any means.”