{"id":699284,"date":"2026-04-05T08:25:30","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T08:25:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/699284\/"},"modified":"2026-04-05T08:25:30","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T08:25:30","slug":"nba-draft-writer-wants-to-see-one-more-year-in-college-for-tennessee-star-nate-ament","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/699284\/","title":{"rendered":"NBA Draft Writer Wants to See One More Year in College for Tennessee Star Nate Ament"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>Photo By Andrew Ferguson\/Tennessee Athletics<\/p>\n

Tennessee basketball freshman phenom Nate Ament has a decision to make. The Vols\u2019 star forward could enter the NBA draft, where he\u2019d likely be a lottery pick, or he could return to college for one more season. While the general consensus is that Ament will depart for the NBA, one NBA draft writer can\u2019t help but think about the benefit of a return.<\/p>\n

During an appearance on The Ryan Russillo Show<\/a>, The Athletic\u2019s Sam Vecenie<\/a> was asked who the one player he wishes would go back to college to see what it\u2019d look like would be. His answer was Ament.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019d be Nate Ament for me,\u201d Vecenie said. \u201cThe answer to that question for me is almost always the guy that\u2019s, like, physically underdeveloped on some level. I want those guys to get lower stakes reps than what they\u2019re presented with in the NBA, just to develop their frame physically more.<\/p>\n

\u201cI really like Nate Ament, to be clear. He\u2019s definitely a lottery pick for me. But, it\u2019s more back half of the lottery because I really worry about him starting his NBA clock so early when he\u2019s just not physically ready.\u201d<\/p>\n

Which CBB players should stay in school for another year? pic.twitter.com\/D2x6zTt0oO<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 The Ryen Russillo Show (@TheRyenRussillo) April 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

More From RTI:\u00a0What Cade Phillips Departure Means For Tennessee Basketball<\/a><\/p>\n

Tennessee assistant coach Gregg Polinsky has a different perspective, though. While he\u2019d of course welcome back Ament with open arms from a basketball perspective, he knows it\u2019s too good of an opportunity to pass up if the feedback from NBA teams matches the mock draft projections.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, he\u2019s gotta go (to the draft),\u201d Polinsky said<\/a>. \u201cUnless his people, his family is great with him coming back. They\u2019re amazing. Amazing family. But if he were my son, I\u2019m telling him he\u2019s got to go. Look, if he\u2019s hearing a number that, meaning not money, but hey, you\u2019re probably going to go 18-25, really? Okay, well, maybe I consider coming back.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I doubt it, guys. I\u2019m going to be surprised if his name is not called in the lottery. And how high it can be in the lottery, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So happy we had Nate Ament, and he shared his life and his talent with us. It\u2019ll be one of the great things that I\u2019ll remember, I\u2019ll tell you that.\u201d<\/p>\n

As a freshman, Ament produced 16.7 points per game on 39.9% shooting from the field and 33.3% from range. He also contributed 6.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per contest.<\/p>\n

However, Ament was far from healthy down the stretch. After missing the final week of the regular season, he gritted his way back into action for the SEC and NCAA Tournaments, though. The result was a third-straight Elite Eight run for Rick Barnes\u2019 program.<\/p>\n

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