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Jaylen Carey on Nate Ament: 'That kid is gonna be special. He's like a baby Kevin Durant.'

IMG_3593by: Grant Ramey07/17/25GrantRamey
Nate Ament, Tennessee Basketball | Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
(Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images) Tennessee's Nate Ament at basketball practice on July 14, 2025, in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Jaylen Carey didn’t do anything to slow down the hype surrounding Tennessee Basketball five-star freshman Nate Ament. Instead, the Vanderbilt transfer power forward added to just how high the ceiling could be for the one-and-done wing this season.

“That kid’s gonna be special,” Carey said before practice Monday afternoon. “He’s like a baby Kevin Durant.”

Ament committed to and signed with Tennessee in April, picking the Vols over Duke, Kentucky, Arkansas and Louisville, among others. He’s one of the highest-ranked prep prospect to ever sign with Tennessee, finishing his prep career as the No. 2 overall player in the 2025 class in the On3 ratings. 

Carey committed to Tennessee in April after averaging 8.0 points and 5.7 rebounds in 20.2 minutes per game at Vanderbilt last season. 

He had 18 points, seven rebounds and three assists before fouling out last season in Vanderbilt’s loss at Tennessee in February. He had 14 points and 10 boards in the Vandy’s win over the Vols in Nashville in January. 

In Knoxville, the 6-foot-8, 245-pound Carey is adding a new role — on-court security. 

ESPN: Nate Ament could be the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft

“I always tell (Ament) that I’m kind of like his bodyguard, I guess you could say,” Carey said. “Whenever somebody’s bumping him around, I told him to let me know. Whenever you need, like on the floor if somebody hits you, just let me know. I got you. 

“I want to take care of him because I know that kid’s gonna be real special, for sure.”

ESPN has the same view of Ament. Jonathan Givony believes Ament is one of four players in the early conversation for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, along with Kansas freshman guard Darryn Peterson, BYU freshman wing A.J. Dybantsa and Duke freshman forward Cameron Boozer.

“Ament is a late addition to the No. 1 pick conversation and the furthest away of the four from reaching his potential,” Givony wrote, “in no small part because he weighs 186 pounds. But ultra-talented wing players with his fluidity, shotmaking prowess, defensive versatility and scoring ability are often deemed franchise-type prospects.”

“There were plenty of NBA executives who walked out of the McDonald’s All American Game in April and said Ament has (NBA) All-Star potential,” Givony added. “After starting practice at Tennessee on June 17, Ament appears to be adding weight and will be in a featured role in the SEC, giving him every opportunity to make his case as a surprise No. 1 candidate.”

‘He’s not bumping off the spot. He’s finishing through contact.’

Troy Henderson, the freshman point guard who signed with Tennessee in April out of Richmond, Va., played AAU basketball with Ament, a native of Manassas, Va. 

He described Ament’s work ethic as matching his raw talent. And it’s already showing during summer workouts, where he’s proving he’s ready to take the bumps.

“Nate’s been growing every day,” Henderson said. “The time he put in off the court, the unseen hours, and it’s on display during practice. It’s like he’s actually, like, he’s driving and players are trying to bump him off the spot. And he’s not bumping off the spot. He’s finishing through contact. I feel like he’s improving really well.”

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