Tennessee Freshman Nate Ament Declares for 2026 NBA Draft

His Instagram post starts the draft evaluation period ahead of a May 27 withdrawal deadline to keep his college eligibility.

Overview

Ament, who announced Thursday on Instagram, entered the 2026 NBA Draft but can still withdraw by May 27 to return to Tennessee.
Draft projections for the 6-foot-10 forward range from the top 10 to No. 18, signaling wide uncertainty about where he could be picked.
League executives say his agency, LIFT Sports Management, is divided on whether he should return, with some believing he could be the No. 1 pick in 2027 if he waits.
The decision carries major financial stakes, with rookie-scale estimates around $5.7 million at No. 8 versus $3.6 million at No. 16 and reports that Tennessee paid him over $4 million last season.
Tennessee’s roster plans now pivot to the transfer portal, where interest in Wake Forest guard Juke Harris is linked to whether Ament comes back for a sophomore year.