Top-5 recruit Nate Ament commits to Tennessee Volunteers - ESPN

Nate Ament, a top-five recruit and the best available high school boys' basketball prospect in the 2025 class, committed to Tennessee, he told ESPN on Sunday.

«Coach [Rick] Barnes sees me as a one-and-done type player,» Ament said. «He has done it before with Kevin Durant. He sees me as that kind of guy for his program. I built a great relationship with the coaching staff. I trust them a lot, and they have big goals for me. I think they'll do a great job of developing me as a player and a young man. I trust the coaches to help me get to the next level.»

Ament, a 6-foot-10 wing from Manassas, Virginia, picked Tennessee over Duke, Kentucky, Arkansas, Louisville and others.

«This was a very hard decision,» Ament said. «It took me a little longer than most. I wanted to make sure it was the right fit. I could have gone to any of the five finalists. Or even to schools outside the finalists. Ultimately, I felt like this was the best place for me and my family, and the coaching staff was the best fit for me. I was looking at the transfer portal and rosters for next season, asking myself how I would fit with teammates? How much can I trust the coaches I am talking to? What goals do they have, and do they align with mine?»

Ament, ESPN's No. 4 prospect in the class of 2025, was selected as a McDonald's All American after helping Highland High School to a 42-8 record and a VISAA Division 1 Championship, winning Virginia boys' basketball Gatorade Player of the Year honors.

A relative unknown 18 months ago, Ament has been on an impressive trajectory, skyrocketing in recruiting rankings after outstanding showings on the high school and grassroots circuits in the spring and summer of 2024, including debuting with USA Basketball and