ESPN analysts rank Nate Ament among Freshman of the Year contenders
By David Wasson
Published:
There have been several first-year superstars in college basketball this season, including a afew in the Southeastern Conference who are making their teams better in their first season out of high school.
Among them is Tennessee freshman forward Nate Ament, whom ESPN analysts Jeff Borzello and Myron Medcalf listed in their ranking of the Top 10 standout freshmen from around the country at No. 8 – one of two SEC players in their Top 10.
Here is what Medcalf had to say about the 6-foot-10 forward:
It took a few months, but Ament finally looks like the five-star high school recruit the top programs were chasing last year. Rick Barnes has demanded more of his team’s top NBA prospect in recent weeks, and Ament has certainly delivered. He has averaged 23.5 points over the past seven contests, entering Wednesday’s game against Oklahoma. The Vols are also 6-1 over that stretch, a testament to what they’re capable of when the 6-foot-10 forward plays to his potential. The Vols are playing top-25 defense right now, they’re the No. 1 offensive rebounding team in America — and their young star is blossoming at the right time.
Ament delivers 17.7 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game for the Volunteers (18-7 overall, 8.4 SEC) – who play host to Oklahoma on Wednesday night (7 pm ET, ESPN2).
Ament is also a huge reason why Tennessee currently sits at 8-4 and is just 2 games back of first place in the SEC. Here’s the latest regular-season SEC title odds from Kalshi:
Ament’s 42.1 percent field-goal rate is the best among Tennessee regulars, and he has scored at least 22 points in 4 of the Vols’ last 5 games. That includes a 29-point effort on Feb. 7 at Kentucky, which tied his career high set Jan. 24 at Alabama.
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
