Nate Ament believes he has ‘greatest upside’ in 2026 NBA draft
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CHICAGO – In what is meant to be top-of-the-line NBA drafts in league historical past, there might not be a prospect with extra potential and intrigue than former University of Tennessee ahead Nate Ament.
ESPN’s Jeremy Woo initiatives that Ament might be chosen tenth general within the 2026 NBA draft by the Milwaukee Bucks and ranks him ninth amongst prospects on his high 100 large board. The 6-foot-9 1/2 baby-faced ahead was additionally informed by a health care provider in May that he nonetheless has extra room in his development plates. The 19-year-old is athletic, expert, can shoot from the perimeter, and has a 6-11 1/2 wingspan and 9-1 1/2 standing attain.
Ament averaged 16.7 factors, 6.3 rebounds and a pair of.3 assists per contest as a freshman with the Volunteers final stretch. He additionally earned All-Southeastern Conference Second-Team and SEC All-Freshman workforce honors whereas serving to information Tennessee to the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA match.
So, can Ament reside as much as his potential?
“I’ve got probably the best upside in the draft,” Ament informed Andscape on May 11 in the course of the NBA Pre-Draft Camp in Chicago. “I’m not even scratching the surface of the player I can be. Ever since I started playing basketball, every year I’ve gotten better and better. So, I do think that I’m just going to continue on that trend.”
Andscape is celebrating Father’s Day on Sunday with a Q&A collection together with a number of the 2026 NBA draft’s high prospects and their fathers. In this collection, the fathers and soon-to-be-drafted sons focus on their relationship by means of basketball, life classes, the perceptions of Black fatherhood, their pleasure and nervousness towards the draft, what NBA groups are getting on and off the courtroom, and extra.
The fathers and sons who participated embody Ament and his father, Albert Ament; former Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr., and his father, Darius Acuff Sr.; former Duke middle Cameron Boozer and his father, former NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer; former Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr. and his father, Christopher Brown Sr.; former BYU ahead AJ Dybantsa and his father, Anicet “Ace” Dybantsa Sr.; and former Houston guard Kingston Flemings and his father, Demetric “Dee” Flemings. The first day of the draft is Tuesday evening on the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
The following is a Q&A interview beginning with Ament’s session adopted by his father’s.
Nate Ament, pictured on the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, stated he’s nonetheless rising bodily, even at 6-9.Jeff Haynes/NBAE through Getty Images
How a lot better are you able to be as a basketball competitor?
Nate Ament: There’s undoubtedly a whole lot of room to develop. I really feel like I can take my profession in so many various methods. That’s another excuse why the workforce that I get drafted by is big as a result of they’re going to have an enormous imprint on the competitor I grow to be. But me as a competitor, I really feel like I’m so [unique]. I can study and decide up so many various issues.
I’ve a lot potential to develop in any side of the contest. So, I don’t assume I’m near turning into the competitor I need to be. And that’s the best way I need it to be, actually. I need to get up each morning with the starvation to chase that potential that I’ve.
What do you inform groups about you on the courtroom and off the courtroom as to why they need to draft you?
It’s query. I normally inform them that once they requested particularly about basketball, simply my versatility as a competitor, offensively and defensively. My willingness to do regardless of the workforce wants me to do. And simply my aggressive spirit. I simply need to victory. I need to be on the market taking part in each contest I will be. And then additionally, simply off the courtroom, I’m character man, humble man, rooted deep in my religion, and an enormous household man, for positive.
Are you continue to rising?
I really received an X-ray earlier than I left [for the NBA Pre-Draft Camp], they usually stated my development plates have been nonetheless open. So, received a pair extra inches in me, possibly. And additionally, I don’t have any facial hair. So, we’re considering that I received a pair extra inches left. I’m 6-9.
You will be an intriguing identify on draft day as a result of you’ll be able to go low or excessive. What are your ideas?
The largest factor for me [is] simply having groups [work me out]. Once they see me, they are going to see it’ll be a wise selection for them to draft me. Obviously, that’s simply me realizing myself. But the largest factor for me is getting out in entrance of them, letting them see my contest. But additionally, simply speaking with them. [The] interview course of might be nice, letting them simply hear me as a person, and I feel that’ll pan out effectively for me.
Five years from now, what might be stated about you as a competitor?
I hope in the beginning to be labeled as a competitor, somebody who’s powerful, somebody who desires to be there on the ground each minute. But additionally, I need to put myself in place to compete with one of the best of them, victory as many accolades as I can. But additionally, the primary factor is to victory as many [NBA] Finals as I can.
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The draft falls two days after Father’s Day. Did that imply something to you whenever you noticed that?
It’s superior, just like the day of after I got here right here [to Chicago for the NBA Pre-Draft Camp], it was Mother’s Day. Then a pair days earlier than the draft, it’s Father’s Day. It ties in the entire household facet to it. Those guys imply every little thing to me, and I’m so grateful I’m capable of share this expertise with them.
What is your dad like? What does he imply to you?
He means a lot to me, particularly on this house in basketball. Oftentimes you see fathers hands-on in basketball and type of working the present. My dad’s the exact opposite. He’s the good man I do know. And if I might be half the person he’s, I’m a fairly good man. But he’s somebody who all through this complete course of, it doesn’t matter what sport I used to be taking part in, he simply beloved me for the child I used to be. No matter if I used to be taking part in effectively, taking part in dangerous, he simply informed me to maintain a smile on my face and benefit from the second. So, to have somebody in your nook that doesn’t care the way you carry out, doesn’t care even what sport you’re taking part in, it’s nice.
I informed him of a few of my goals to go to the NBA in the future. And he wasn’t somebody who was pushing me day-after-day to perform these goals. He simply wished me to be blissful whereas I used to be doing it. So, I’m grateful to have a dad like him, who’s simply aware of my well-being.
Do you assume that if he pushed onerous, it might have labored out negatively?
It might have a bit bit. There’s additionally some push and pull with that. He clearly was an ideal competitor himself. He is aware of what it takes to sequence at a excessive collegiate stage. But it was an ideal stability as a result of I type of had that drive myself. I used to be pushing myself, and I nonetheless am, as onerous as I might. But he was simply somebody that simply made positive I used to be at all times blissful.
Your dad can be distinctive in the truth that he’s a white man who frolicked in Rwanda, married your mom and labored within the Peace Corps. He raised 4 mixed-race boys. How did he try this? And did you discover any challenges for him, or have been there any challenges?
Not actually, actually. He’s the good white boy I do know. You can name him African American. He understands tradition for positive, particularly over there in Rwanda, and on the continent of Africa. But you speak to him, and he can type of join with anyone irrespective of their race, irrespective of the place they’re from, their ethnicity. And that’s type of the place I get a few of my background from. I’m capable of join with so many various folks simply due to my dad. He was simply so outgoing that means, keen to study a lot about totally different cultures and likewise simply speak to actually anyone.
What might be discovered about him, about how he’s simply comfy in any room, just like the type of human he’s?
He’s essentially the most selfless man. One of the one of many largest classes he taught me rising up was everytime you’re talking to somebody, make them really feel like an important particular person on this planet, and provides them your full consideration. And he does that each time he speaks to any person. He’s at all times asking questions, attempting to study every little thing there’s to find out about somebody’s life, and simply making them really feel good whereas they speak to him. That’s a particular energy to have in life, to make the particular person you’re speaking to really feel actually particular. That’s simply type of the particular person he’s. He’s such an outgoing particular person. He desires to make everybody round him simply type of really feel higher about themselves and really feel like they’re heard.
Nate Ament was an All-SEC second-team and all-freshman workforce choice in his solely stretch at Tennessee.Carly Mackler/Getty Images
Do you assume there’s a false impression about you when it comes to your toughness?
Absolutely. And not simply me, that’s type of a false impression with a whole lot of guys. You see my body, my construct, you assume I’m weak. You assume I’m not as robust as I’m. First enormous credit score to the blokes at Tennessee, that our power play-caller, Coach G [Garrett Medenwald], did an ideal job with me…
Strength on the basketball courtroom is straight correlated to toughness. If you need to outwork any person or out-tough any person, you’ll be able to, irrespective of how a lot you weigh, irrespective of how a lot they weigh. But for me, I cling my hat on being powerful. And that doesn’t imply you’re being like in somebody’s face on a regular basis, or you recognize, bumping into folks on a regular basis. That simply means on each sequence, not letting folks outwork me on the courtroom.
How good can the 2026 NBA draft class be?
It will be one of the best, one of the best class ever, actually. You have a look at the blokes on the high and even the blokes, you recognize, near the underside of the lottery, I feel it’s the deepest draft we’ve ever had.
What classes that your father has taught you in life that you simply’re going to take to you wherever you go sequence within the NBA?
I talked about earlier about how he says to make everybody you’re speaking to really feel like essentially the most particular particular person on Earth. But additionally, one other one was, ‘Whatever you’re doing, do it to one of the best of your capability.’ He would say that lots. And a whole lot of time I wouldn’t need to hear it as a result of it’ll be him telling me about yard work and I didn’t need to do it. But for those who’re going to do one thing, do it to one of the best of your capability. And additionally, simply loving folks, make everybody really feel particular, but in addition simply being the kindest particular person you’ll be able to. And simply representing our household in the easiest way attainable.
Did you ever get to see previous video of him taking part in in school?
I didn’t. It’s loopy. I went to his school, they usually have the [Wayne State] Hall of Fame. And then we took some footage of him within the Hall of Fame. And then I went to my grandma’s home in Michigan, and also you see the [newspaper] cutouts. And there’s like an image of him on a newspaper with this buzz lower, and it’s speaking about how they have been within the rival’s gymnasium, they usually have been calling him, ‘Buzz Cut, Buzz Cut,’ and making enjoyable of him the entire contest. And he gave them 20 factors and received them the contest. So, it’s type of cool to see how he type of was going by means of the identical issues I used to be going by means of as a younger child.
How a lot pleasure do you could have in that final identify?
So a lot pleasure. My household is an important factor to me on this Earth. And if there’s something I do, whether or not it’s taking part in basketball or off the courtroom, I need to symbolize them to one of the best of my capability. When it involves draft evening, I’m not even going to be extra emotional or extra proud about me and the place I get drafted, or how excessive or how low I get drafted. It’s simply going to be I used to be capable of symbolize my household on that evening. And they’ve given me a lot. So, if I may give them simply to make them proud in a fraction of a means, then I’ve carried out my job.
A younger Nate Ament (left) together with his father Albert Ament (proper)The Ament Family
What’s your first recollection of placing the basketball in Nate’s palms?
Albert Ament: I simply stated, ‘Hey, let’s simply get [my two youngest sons] on this little type of grassroots league close to the place we lived. And they began taking part in that, they usually have been very happy to, Nate and his brother Frederick. And these are the 2 that type of actually sprouted up and grew lots. And they only transitioned proper into that, they usually appreciated it, they usually’d been watching the NBA increasingly, and since I watched it a bit with them, March Madness, and all that.
They type of went from soccer and proper into basketball, they usually simply picked it up. I’d go and watch them sequence the place they have been taking part in, and their buddies would come, simply type of typical summer season stuff that you simply all type of develop up doing whether or not you go lengthy distance within the contest or not. Kind of a sandlot type of a scenario that they actually loved.
When did you say that Nate may be a bit particular at basketball?
He began to develop lots. You at all times speak all through the years who could be the tallest? And we’d come and say, ‘Alex, you’re going to be the shortest.’ And he’d get all mad. Or possibly Manny would be the tallest. And it simply, it was actually clear. Nate began to develop. Frederick received very tall. Frederick’s about 6-foot-6 and performed some seasons in highschool as effectively. But then Nate simply saved rising and rising and rising, and I feel the contest got here straightforward to him.
Some of his early coaches type of stated all that soccer type of actually helped together with his footwork and the best way he moved and might pivot and get round and get open. But he actually simply began to develop. And then provided that he was capable of sequence strongly and with confidence. And he received higher and higher. And one other useful factor, too, was whenever you’re round different children about the identical top, or so. He had that top that type of helped him. And then it simply type of went from there.
Had you seen that Father’s Day was two days earlier than the NBA draft?
That’s wonderful. Yeah, it’s actually neat. They ought to plan it that means.
What do you have to fathers get?
Just previous man stuff, I suppose. Maybe get an opportunity to hang around collectively, have a beer, have a wine, speak sports activities. But it’s a big day.
What have your boys carried out for you in previous Father’s Days?
Most of it’s most likely as a result of Mom is pushing them alongside and telling them what to do. You get that good card, and possibly one of the best ones are only a large previous present card to Lowe’s. I’ve received to get some birdseed or some topsoil. That at all times helped. Then we at all times exit and have a chew to eat collectively. Always being collectively is an enormous factor within the household.
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When Nate makes it to the NBA, which of your teachings would you like him to take with him?
Find that path of a sport or a self-discipline and do your greatest at it. And Nate’s carried out that. And he’s entering into golf now and a bit little bit of fishing and nonetheless kicks the soccer ball round. But for those who’re going to do one thing, do it rather well, pursue it actually onerous, give it your greatest, and by no means take it too significantly. And Nate’s type of been nice with that. We chuckled type of early on. He took the basketball and ran off possibly again to the college the place he at all times used to go, and he stated, ‘I’m heading off, I’m going to work on my craft.’
So, someplace he picked that up the place he needed to be very particular and take note of one thing and work at it, work at it and be disciplined about it and did that day after day. That’s most likely the massive factor. Give you your greatest. And I’m at all times telling him to be very grateful, too. Give out these hugs and thank-yous to all of the coaches he’s had in highschool, in journey ball with AAU, and at Tennessee.
So, if one among his potential NBA groups have been to name you and say, what sort of particular person are we getting, what would you inform them?
I’ll inform him you’re getting an actual honest younger man. Someone who’s type of harmless in his personal means. He’s very humble. He’s very deferential. He’ll consider others first, which he does. And he’s pushed, decided, and self-motivated as effectively. Lots of people really feel that and get a way of that once they meet him and work with him, and I hope that’s good. It looks like he’s fairly good at talking with folks and interacting.
And we’ve had some nice experiences collectively by means of the trail of basketball. We’ve gone on with him to Rwanda and different locations and simply the visits to the schools and assembly the coaches and all that. He’s carried out nice. We’ve let him do a whole lot of that. He’s received fairly large shoulders that means. I’d at all times examine, ‘Are you okay? Do I need to talk to anybody? Do I have to call somebody? You want me to check in, in any way?’ And he’d be, ‘I’m okay.’ And that’s neat. So, he knew we have been there if he wanted us. But, he in his personal means, actually was capable of juggle all that, which was nice.
As a father, what steering did you give in navigating NIL cash and school?
Well, you recognize, Nate received shut together with his agent, Derek [Malloy], and Lift Sports and all these nice folks over there. His coaches as effectively. [Tennessee] play-caller [Rick] Barnes and play-caller Logan [Miller] in highschool. We actually leaned on them lots. I’m a bit previous French instructor, and mother’s a nurse. And we received his different three brothers, and we’ve leaned on them lots. They’ve all been actually nice and useful, and that’s actually labored out.
Maybe it’s a saving grace. I’m at all times most likely six months behind studying about all of it. So, if I knew possibly what I used to be imagined to know, possibly I’d produce other views or would ask about one thing extra, and possibly gradual issues down or get in the best way. We’ve been actually open about asking and discovering out. And once more, we attempt to be good folks. We’ve received good folks round us which were actually useful and guided us alongside.
Then we get a really feel for Nate. He’ll ask us sure issues, and we’ll know that it’s type of one thing he actually desires to find out about. He type of requested us about his final couple universities he was contemplating, and he informed us what he was considering. And we did, too, after which he made his resolution. So, we have been actually proud of that. Hopefully we’ve gotten him to the purpose the place he’s grow to be that means as an individual, nevertheless it’s made it simpler for us too, as a result of he’s processed it effectively.
You received to fret these days about if he’s stressing out. But he’s a faith-filled younger man, and he leans on his brothers even in methods we most likely don’t even know.
What is the sweetness, and likewise the challenges of elevating 4 mixed-race boys?
I grew up in Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan, proper outdoors of Detroit. And I performed at Wayne State University. And that was an actual eye-opening, cultural type of expertise for me as effectively, having teammates from Detroit and never being from my background in any respect. But we type of got here collectively to sequence basketball and try this collectively. I discovered a lot. And having been within the Peace Corps, and traveled in Africa, and all of the household relations.
That’s one thing I don’t take into consideration an excessive amount of. But I bear in mind speaking to every of them at one level, simply saying, ‘If you ever have an issue, if you were ever to get pulled over while you’re driving, simply do what you’re imagined to, and you recognize, you ask questions later and discover out for those who assume one thing’s not proper or wasn’t honest. But once more, we’ve been blessed with their selections and the way issues have come about, to not have to actually fear about that, and actually type of simply rejoice, after all, mother’s background and household and pals that we’ve recognized over time from in every single place.
All our connections in Italy with mother’s mom from over there. They’ve gotten by means of all the opposite issues that we type of do as a household, nevertheless it’s a neat factor. It’s simply type of who they’re. So, it should be fascinating with different households as effectively, simply given the place they’re from, or what metropolis they’re from, or their household and know the way issues go everyday. They’ve embraced all of it themselves.
What has been the largest problem?
Luckily, they haven’t been pulled over and been rushing or gotten into bother. We’re outdoors [Washington] D.C. in Northern Virginia and the Manassas space. We have such a various nation now. Everyone’s a bit little bit of one thing, you recognize. I’m Irish and German, and my mother is from England. Grew up in a very fascinating state like Michigan, with town of Detroit and was introduced up in a means by our dad and mom simply to have the ability to relate and work together with folks, and that’s neat. Growing up the place they did is an enormous a part of it, too. They actually skilled that within the public colleges, and their teammates and classmates have a tendency to come back from in every single place, which has been nice.
What does the NBA draft appear like for your loved ones and the way proud will you be?
Just wonderful. We’ve type of taken issues step-by-step. And you get a bit bit older, and we had our kids a bit bit late. But Nate’s our youngest. Now, there’s a calmness. We are actually taking all of it in. Really get pleasure from your highschool days, and your teammates and classmates. And he has had such nice success, after which he has to go away them, after which he goes to Tennessee, and made nice pals with the coaches and teammates.
He works on his craft like he must and likes to. This subsequent factor goes to be simply wonderful… After some time, you simply type of assume that you simply type of belong there, since you’re simply round it a lot. It’ll be tremendous, and it’s an ideal metropolis [Brooklyn], nice occasion. The league appears implausible, with nice athletes, a whole lot of examples and a whole lot of expertise. I’m actually blissful for Nate, and he’s going to take all of it in. And no matter platform he can get, he actually desires to assist different folks and children and educate and promote the contest. It’ll be enjoyable to observe him and actually assist him with what he’s doing, if we will too.
Marc J. Spears is the senior NBA author for Andscape. He used to have the ability to dunk on you, however he hasn’t been capable of in years and his knees nonetheless harm.
