Photo By Cole Moore/Rocky Top Insider
Just one regular-season game remains for Tennessee basketball. As the Vols gear up for the finale vs. Vanderbilt on Saturday, the status of freshman phenom Nate Ament is still in the air after suffering an injury last weekend and missing Tuesday’s game at South Carolina.
However, regardless of his short-term availability, Ament is considered one of the top freshmen and draft prospects in the country. On March 2, 2026, The Athletic revealed its new 2026 NBA Mock Draft.
Ament was listed as the No. 9 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. This would send him to Milwaukee, where he would play for the Bucks. The Bucks are currently 26-35 and sit at 11th in the Eastern Conference. Giannis Antetokounmpo still stars for the franchise, posting averages of 27.6 points, 9.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game.
March is here, and as we head toward the madness, here’s @Sam_Vecenie‘s latest 2026 NBA mock draft ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/5hPtjDAydb
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) March 2, 2026
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Ament is averaging 17.4 points per game on 41.4% shooting from the field and 32.8% from three. He is also producing 6.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.0 steals per game.
He has been named the SEC Freshman of the Week a number of times and the SEC Player of the Week once this season. Ament is expected to be an SEC All-Freshman Member and likely will make an All-SEC team, though those accolades won’t be announced until after the regular season concludes.
Ament has helped steer the Vols to a 21-9 (11-6 SEC) record this season. This projects as a 5-seed in the NCAA Tournament, according to ESPN’s bracketology. UT would open the bracket against 12-seed Yale in the projection, with the winner facing the winner between 4-seed Gonzaga and 13-seed UNC Wilmington.
The regular season will conclude on Saturday with Vanderbilt coming to town. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET and will air on ESPN.