Africa-Press – Rwanda. Rwandan-American basketball prodigy Nate Ament has committed to US college team, Tennessee Volunteers, as he waits for the 2026 NBA draft.
The 18-year-old small forward is ranked in the top four of the 2025 class by the majority of major outlets in the United States. He is the third top-five prep recruit ever to sign with Tennessee, joining Tobias Harris (2010) and Allan Houston (1989).
The Tennessee Volunteers men’s basketball club is the collegiate men’s basketball program for the University of Tennessee–Knoxville. The club competes in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)and the Southeastern Conference.
Club coach Rick Barnes said that everyone is aware of just what a special player Nate is.
He revealed that what really drew the team to him throughout the recruiting process was the type of person he is.
“Nate is a high-character, family-oriented young man with a tremendous, caring support system around him who will mesh with our program from day one. He brings a dynamic skill set to the hardwood, embodying the attributes of a modern basketball player,” Barnes said.
“Standing out with next-level positional size, he possesses the rare combination of the ability to dribble, pass and shoot with confidence and precision,” Barnes continued.
“Nate has a strong basketball IQ to go along with an excellent pairing of skill and toughness. He’s the kind of versatile talent who can impact the game in a variety of ways and, in our eyes, he was the No. 1 player in the class. We are thrilled to have him in orange.”
Reflecting on the move, told ESPN, “Coach [Rick] Barnes sees me as a one-and-done type player. He has done it before with Kevin Durant.”
American NCAA Transfer Portal, On3, tabs Ament as the third-best player in the country, with a 99 grade while 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals all slot the 2.05m, 84kg youngster fourth nationally with 247Sports also giving him a 99 grade.
One of just nine players with a five-star nod from all four outlets, Ament is unanimously considered the top player in Virginia in his class.
The 13th McDonald’s All-American in program history, including the fifth in the last seven classes signed by Barnes, Ament totaled 12 points, three rebounds, one steal, one assist and a 2-of-2 3-point clip in the game. He will be the 21st McDonald’s All-American to play for Barnes in his head coaching career, including the 20th high school signee.
Ament, who was named 2024-25 Gatorade Virginia Player of the Year, became the first individual from a school other than Oak Hill Academy or Paul VI to win the elite distinction since Thon Maker in 2013-14. He averaged 19 points, 10 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game during his final prep campaign.
Ament is coming off a senior season in which he led Highland School to a 42-8 record and a Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA) Division I state title.
During his first two prep years, Ament attended Charles J. Colgan High School. As a sophomore, he recorded 18.2 points per game and helped his school set a record with 18 victories en route to a regional quarterfinal berth.
Before deciding on Tennessee, Ament fielded interest from many of the nation’s premier programs. He picked the Volunteers over fellow finalists Arkansas, Duke, Kentucky and Louisville, plus held offers from schools such as Alabama, BYU, Georgetown, Kansas State, Notre Dame and Texas, among others.
Ament also possesses experience representing the United States in international competition, including most recently competing in the elite Nike Hoop Summit on April 12 in Portland, Ore.
A member of the 2024 U18 USA National Team, Ament took part in the 2024 FIBA U18 AmeriCup in June and helped his country post a 6-0 record en route to winning the gold medal in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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