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ESPN settles on offseason ranking for Tennessee Basketball in new Way-Too-Early Top 25

IMG_3593by:Grant Ramey•06/06/25•

GrantRamey

Nate Ament, Tennessee Basketball | Tennessee Athletics
Nate Ament, Tennessee Basketball | Tennessee Athletics

ESPN has settled on a ranking for Tennessee Basketball for the 2025-26 season — at least for now. The Vols dropped three spots to No. 23, back to their initial ranking, in ESPN’s Way-Too-Early Top 25, updated after the NBA Draft withdrawal deadline.

Tennessee started at No. 23 in the first version of the rankings and moved up as high as No. 16 after adding five-star small forward Nate Ament. The Vols dropped back to No. 20 in the third edition of the rankings, then back to No. 23 earlier this week. 

“Tennessee has been busy reloading the roster,” ESPN’s Jeff Borzello wrote, “with top-five recruit Nate Ament and Maryland transfer Ja’Kobi Gillespie representing two of the most impactful newcomers for any team in the country. 

“Ament has incredible long-term upside, while Gillespie was among the best point guards in college basketball this past season. Louisiana Tech transfer Amaree Abram also adds shooting.”

‘The Vols need more’

ESPN has Purdue at No. 1 to start the summer, ahead of Florida, Houston, UConn and St. John’s in the top five. 

The Gators moved up 18 spots after adding Arkansas transfer point guard Boogie Fland and getting center Alex Condon back. 

Four other SEC teams are ranked ahead of Tennessee: No. 9 Kentucky, No. 11 Arkansas, No. 14 Auburn, No. 17 Alabama.

ESPN’s projected starting five is Gillepsie, Abram, Ament, Jaylen Carey and Felix Okpara. 

Gillespie, Abram and Carey, the power forward from Vanderbilt, were Tennessee’s three NCAA Transfer Portal additions during the spring. The Vols also signed five prep prospects in their 2025 class, headlined by Ament and ranked No. 14 nationally and No. 4 in the SEC.

Along with Ament, Tennessee signed four-star guard Amari Evans, four-star center Dewayne Brown II, three-star guard Clarence Massamba and three-star point guard Troy Henderson. 

ESPN projects Nate Ament as top-five pick in 2026 NBA Draft

ESPN projected Ament as the No. 4 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft after being one-and-done in college basketball.

“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,” ESPN’s Jonathan Givony wrote.

The Vols didn’t lose any players to the NCAA Transfer Portal, but return just four scholarship players in Okpara, JP Estrella, Cade Phillips and Bishop Boswell.

“Rick Barnes has strong frontcourt depth,” Borzello wrote, “with Jaylen Carey (Vanderbilt) joining starter Felix Okpara and reserves Cade Phillips and JP Estrella. The Vols need more, though, with starters Zakai Zeigler, Chaz Lanier, Jahmai Mashack and Igor Milicic Jr. and reserves Jordan Gainey and Darlinstone Dubar all gone.”

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