Still buzzing from Sunday’s huge announcement? You’re not alone — the Tennessee Volunteers just pulled off something that didn’t seem possible a month ago. Back then, it looked like 5-star power forward Nate Ament was bound for either Duke or Louisville.
But Rick Barnes and the Vols never let up in their pursuit. They stayed persistent and showed Ament he was a top priority, and it paid off big time. Ament committed to Tennessee, becoming the highest-rated recruit in the program’s history. Another win for Barnes? Absolutely. Speaking with ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, Ament said he envisions himself as a Kevin Durant-like presence for the Vols.
“Coach [Rick] Barnes sees me as a one-and-done type player,” Ament told Givony. “He’s done it before with Kevin Durant, and he believes I can be that kind of guy in his system. I’ve built a strong relationship with the coaches. I really trust them, and they have a clear vision for me. I know they’ll help me grow as both a player and a person. I trust them to prepare me for the next level.”
Landing Ament is a massive recruiting victory for Rick Barnes.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/74034785/2208053472.0.jpg)
With today’s transfer portal chaos, it’s not uncommon for top talent to switch schools quickly. But Barnes has been upfront with Ament the whole way, stressing that his plan is to prepare him for the NBA from day one. Barnes leaned into his past success with Durant during their Texas days — a comparison that clearly resonated.
Ament has full confidence in Barnes and the rest of the staff, and he’s all but locked in as a Day 1 starter for the 2025-26 season. While losing players like Zakai Zeigler, Chaz Lanier, and Jahmai Mashack will be tough, Barnes has been crushing the offseason by bringing in major talent.
Credit also goes to Ja’Kobi Gillespie, who started recruiting Ament as soon as he signed with Tennessee. Could Rodney Rice be next? If so, this team’s stock is only going to keep rising. The Vols are shaping up to be a serious Final Four threat come next April — and adding a few more key pieces could make all the difference.
Be the first to comment