Kentucky target Nate Ament now projected as a top-5 2026 NBA Draft pick

by:Jack Pilgrim•about 12 hours

If Mark Pope truly wants to land his first big fish as the head coach at Kentucky, he’s got the chance with 2025 five-star wing Nate Ament.

Ament, rated as the No. 3 overall recruit in the senior class, just cut his list down to five schools on Tuesday with Kentucky joining Duke, Louisville, Tennessee and Arkansas — basically the Wildcats and their four biggest rivals right now. A final decision is expected on April 1 at the 2025 McDonald’s All-American Game in Brooklyn.

That decision will give the school of his choosing a potential top-five draft pick, according to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony.

In his first update for the 2026 draft class, Ament came in at No. 4 overall.

“A relative unknown 18 months ago, Ament has grown significantly, filled out his frame, and become a devastating matchup at 6-foot-11 with an exceptionally high skill level,” Givony wrote. “His tremendous shot-making prowess, intriguing passing and defensive versatility, and ability to get his shot off almost whenever he pleases give him perhaps the highest upside of any prospect in this class. Duke, Kentucky, and Louisville are vying for his services next season, and a decision is expected in the next month or so.”

Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning

By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.

Ament took an official visit to Kentucky earlier this month, taking in Lexington for the Wildcats’ home win over Tennessee from Feb. 10-12. He was also in Knoxville for UK’s road upset on Jan. 28. Mark Pope then followed that up with a trip to Virginia to see Ament on his Senior Night on Feb. 14, immediately after his official to Kentucky.

What are his thoughts on the blue and white?

“Kentucky, I actually just came back from a visit from there but again, Coach Pope, high-character coach,” Ament said on The Youngins Sports Podcast with Jordan Richard. “Not just talking about Xs and Os, but as a person, he’s a high-character guy. That’s something you like to see as a player. But also his offense is one of the best in the nation. He gets up and down the floor, shoots the three very well, seeing that as a versatile player who does all those things is very tempting for sure.”

ESPN’s complete top 10 includes some familiar faces and names, including one former signee and one past finalist who turned down Kentucky for another blue blood.