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What ESPN learned about Nate Ament in his first two games at Tennessee

IMG_3593by: Grant Ramey17 hours agoGrantRamey
Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images | Tennessee forward Nate Ament (10) tries to the basket while guarded by Mercer guard Brady Shoulders (11) in an NCAA college basketball game on November 3, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn.
Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images | Tennessee forward Nate Ament (10) tries to the basket while guarded by Mercer guard Brady Shoulders (11) in an NCAA college basketball game on November 3, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn.

Tennessee Basketball five-star freshman Nate Ament had questions to answer after his unofficial debut against Duke last week, according to ESPN. He provided some answers Monday night in the season-opening 76-61 win over Mercer at Food City Center. 

Ament had 14 points and 10 rebounds in the exhibition loss to Duke on October 26, but he shot just 5-for-19 from the field, including 0-for-5 from the 3-point line. Against Mercer he had a team-high 18 points to go with nine rebounds, going 6-for-11 from the floor and 1-for-4 from three.

“His activity on the glass has been surprisingly impressive early,” ESPN’s Jeff Borzello wrote, “given he also was productive in that area against the Blue Devils.”

Up Next: No. 18 Tennessee vs. Northern Kentucky, Saturday

Ament played 33 minutes in the 83-76 loss to Duke, then 29 minutes Monday night against Mercer. 

“Ament’s usage is not going to be in doubt moving forward, as Rick Barnes‘ team needs the freshman’s explosiveness on offense,” Borzello wrote. “The shotmaking that made him so sought after at the high school level will come around.”

ESPN in the preseason had Ament at No. 18 in its ranking of the top-100 players in college basketball this season. 

The 6-foot-10, 207-pound Ament was the No. 4 overall prospect in the 2025 Rivals Industry Ranking, becoming the highest-ranked recruit to commit to and sign with the Vols. He picked Tennessee last April over Duke, Louisville, Arkansas and Kentucky, among others.

‘Last game he tried to do too much and that’s where you’ll see his improvement’

On Monday night, after making his official Tennessee debut, Ament explained his adjustment from the exhibition game to the season opener. 

“I think I learned the most in film,” Ament said, “just having our coaching staff being able to kind of get on me in ways I can get better. Also, I saw the way I was playing and I didn’t like it. So I thought I could just do a better job of running the floor, finding my teammates early whenever I get the ball, and also help my teammates get open shots and stuff like that. 

“I think the more that I look for my teammates, the better, the more open I’m going to be when I get the ball.”

It was Ament’s response after the loss to Duke that had the attention of Barnes.

“He showed his maturity because he came out, he took it to heart what he didn’t do,” Barnes said. “… Last game he tried to do too much and that’s where you’ll see his improvement. He’ll know more where his shots are coming from and when he needs to shoot.”