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'Go where they need you': How Shaquille O'Neal helped recruit Nate Ament to Tennessee

IMG_3593by:Grant Ramey•06/08/25•

GrantRamey

Nate Ament Instagram
Nate Ament Instagram

Shaquille O’Neal deserves some credit for helping Tennessee Basketball land five-star Nate Ament. 

On his new Netflix series, ‘Power Moves with Shaquille O’Neal,’ Shaq offers Ament some insight during his high-profile recruitment, which stretched into the spring with the likes of Duke, Kentucky, Louisville, Arkansas and Tennessee in the mix.

Shaq didn’t specifically steer Ament toward Tennessee, but he steered him away from Duke while the Vols and the Blue Devils were seemingly the final two schools involved late in the process.

“My advice to you,” Shaq said during a sit-down meeting with Ament and his father, “I know you’re picking schools … go where they need you, not where they want you. I like Duke, but they already got a cat they’re high on. You don’t want to be No. 2. You’re never No. 2. You’re No. 1.”

“Whatever school you choose,” Shaq added, “I’m going to be watching you.”

Nate Ament ranked No. 2 overall by On3 in 2025 class

The Netflix series follows Shaq as he signs basketball talent to Reebok deals, one of which includes Ament. 

The successful recruitment from Reebok and Shaq included his son, Shareef O’Neal, visiting Ament at his high school in Virginia, as well as Las Vegas a meeting with Allen Iverson, another basketball star from the state of Virginia who was a Reebok athlete.

“Shaq was one of the most dominant players ever,” Ament said during the fourth episode of the Netflix series. “Then obviously AI was one of the most influential. Having those leaders of a brand want me is something special.”

Ament committed to Tennessee on April 20, giving the Vols one of their highest-ranked commits in program history. 

He finished as the No. 2 overall player in the On3 Ratings for the 2025 class, the No. 2 small forward nationally and the No. 1 player in the state of Virginia. 

Nate Ament: “I have my own (apparel) deal, which is insane to me”

Ament is the 13th McDonald’s All-American to sigh with Tennessee, with Rick Barnes signing five over the last seven years. He was also the Gatorade Virginia Player of the Year after averaging 19.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game as a senior. 

Ament’s ad campaign for Reebok labels him as “the future of Reebok Basketball”.

“I have my own (apparel) deal, which is insane to me,” Ament said on the Netflix series. “Who am I? A kid from Virginia.”

“It builds my confidence, for sure,” Ament added, “but it also just makes me that much hungrier. These guys believe in me and I have to come through and deliver for these guys.”

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