Tennessee's Nate Ament Projected 9th Overall Pick in Latest NBA Mock Draft

The freshman phenom is expected to be a high draft selection despite missing time due to injury.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Tennessee basketball freshman Nate Ament is projected to be the 9th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft according to the latest mock draft from The Athletic. Ament has been a standout player for the Volunteers this season, averaging 17.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.0 steals per game. Despite missing time due to injury, the young star is expected to be an early selection in the upcoming draft, with the Milwaukee Bucks slated to take him at 9th overall.

Why it matters

Ament's projected high draft position highlights his immense talent and potential as one of the top young players in college basketball. His success could have a major impact on the Tennessee program, potentially drawing more top recruits to Knoxville and boosting the team's profile nationally.

The details

In The Athletic's latest 2026 NBA Mock Draft, Nate Ament is projected to be selected 9th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks are currently 26-35 and sit 11th in the Eastern Conference standings, led by star Giannis Antetokounmpo. Ament has been a standout performer for Tennessee this season, averaging 17.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.0 steals per game while shooting 41.4% from the field and 32.8% from three-point range. He has earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors multiple times and is expected to be named to the SEC All-Freshman team and potentially an All-SEC team as well.

  • Ament suffered an injury last weekend and missed Tennessee's game against South Carolina on Tuesday.
  • The Athletic released its latest 2026 NBA Mock Draft on March 2, 2026.
  • Tennessee's regular season will conclude on Saturday, March 8, 2026 with a game against Vanderbilt.

The players

Nate Ament

A standout freshman basketball player for the University of Tennessee, Ament is projected to be a high draft pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

The star player for the Milwaukee Bucks, who are projected to select Ament with the 9th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

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What’s next

Tennessee will conclude its regular season on Saturday, March 8, 2026 with a game against Vanderbilt. Ament's status for that game is still uncertain due to the injury he suffered last weekend.

The takeaway

Nate Ament's projected high draft position in the 2026 NBA Draft is a testament to his immense talent and potential as one of the top young players in college basketball. His success could have a major impact on the Tennessee program, potentially drawing more top recruits to Knoxville and boosting the team's national profile.