Tennessee University basketball head coach Rick Barnes has lauded Rwandan-American youngster Nate Ament as the best of the 2025 class in the USA. Ament, 18, is a highly-rated forward, who is ranked among the top prospects for the 2026 NBA draft. He recently joined the University of Tennessee where he will be playing and continue to develop as he pursues his goal of playing in the NBA. “He’s the kind of versatile talent who can impact the game in a variety of ways, and in our eyes, he was the No. 1 player in the class,” Barnes said. ALSO READ: US basketball prospect Nate Ament launches signature sneaker inspired by Rwanda Ament is one of the highest recruits to come to Tennessee. The former five-star prospect was heavily coveted in the 2025 class but chose the Volunteers as his college basketball team. He already has an impressive resume, including being named a McDonald’s All-American, playing in the Nike Hoop summit, and winning gold with Team USA in the 2024 FIBA U18 AmeriCup. His senior season was an elite one as he averaged 19 points and 10 rebounds a game which earned him Gatorade Virginia Player of the Year. He also won a state championship and led his team to a 42-8 record. ALSO READ: NBA prospect Nate Ament to visit Rwanda this week Head coach Rick Barnes is no stranger to signing five-star prospects in his regime. He’s signed Josiah-Jordan James, Keon Johnson, Jaden Springer, Kennedy Chandler, Brandon Huntley-Hatfield, and Julian Phillips. This year’s Tennessee team has a nice blend of youthful exuberance and veterans on the team. Ament looks like he will be an instant impact player for the Volunteers this year and be a big focal point for the club’s success. Ament certainly has all the tools with his impressive skill set and his 6’9 frame that can do a little bit of everything on the court. The Tennessee coaching staff has continued to take notice and rave about the standout prospect.
