Highly-rated Rwandan-American basketball sensation Nate Ament is set to visit Rwanda before the end of this week, Weekend Sport has learned. The 18-year-old forward, currently playing for the University of Tennessee, is ranked among ESPN’s top four prospects for the 2026 NBA Draft. Born to a Rwandan mother, Godelive Mukankuranga, and an American father Albert Ament, the 2.06m athlete is praised for his versatility, smooth playing style, scoring ability, and elite defensive instincts. Ament is widely regarded as one of the most promising young talents in American basketball. ALSO READ: US basketball prospect Nate Ament launches signature sneaker inspired by Rwanda According to his team, he will be in Kigali from August 9 to 13, accompanied by his parents and his brother Frederick. His visit, which has been in the works for over a year through discussions involving the Ministry of Sports and the Rwanda Development Board, will focus on youth engagement and cultural reconnection. Ament holds a multi-year endorsement deal with iconic sportswear brand Reebok. In April, he debuted his signature sneaker, ‘the Reebok Engine A Rwanda PE,’ during the McDonald’s All-American Game. The limited-edition shoe, inspired by the Rwandan flag’s blue, yellow, and green colours, pays tribute to his heritage while featuring Reebok’s latest performance technology. ALSO READ: Nate Ament: Youngster with Rwandan roots ranked among USA's basketball finest “For my country,” he captioned the sneaker on Instagram. His Rwanda itinerary includes participating in the ‘Nate Ament x Reebok’ community outreach initiative, where he’ll lead youth basketball clinics and make donations to local players. He is also scheduled to join the Basketball-for-Good event in Kayonza, organised by Shooting Touch, a non-profit organisation using basketball to empower youth. ALSO READ: Rwandan-American prospect Ament joins top US college basketball team In addition, Ament will take part in a creative session with Rwandan fashion designers to begin conceptualizing his 2026 NBA Draft outfit, an effort to blend his cultural identity with his rising basketball brand. As a junior, Ament averaged 19.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.0 blocks, and 3.7 assists per game, earning VISAA Division II Co-Player of the Year and his first MPSC Player of the Year honor. He led his team to the MPSC championship title, scoring 17 points in the final against top-seeded Clinton Grace Christian. Before joining the University of Tennessee, Ament shone at Charles J. Colgan High School. There, he was named First Team All-District and All-Class 6 Region B as a sophomore and led the team to a school-record 18 wins and a regional quarterfinal berth.
