Tennessee’s incoming freshman Nate Ament has quickly emerged as the sleeper No. 1 pick with arguably the highest upside in the 2026 NBA Draft. A lanky 6′9″ (potentially 6′11″) wing equipped with guard mechanics and perimeter skills, Ament fits the modern NBA archetype to perfection .
Despite being considered a “late bloomer,” Ament has experienced a rapid transformation over the past year—growing into his frame and refining a soft shooting touch from all three levels. ESPN’s Jonathan Givony describes him as “a tremendous shotmaker” with improved passing and defensive versatility, one of the highest upside prospects in the class . CBS Sports echoes this sentiment, praising his fluidity, natural touch, and recent leap—from minimal USA Basketball minutes to one of the most gifted in his class .
Yet, his physicality remains a work-in-progress. At around 190 lbs, scouts note his slender build and urge him to assert himself more consistently. ProFootballNetwork highlights concerns about his play posture and tendency to get bumped off spots, although they also point out his exceptional floor vision and shot-making prowess .
Ament arrives at Tennessee as a consensus five-star recruit—the highest-rated in program history—turning down powerhouses like Duke, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Louisville . Under Rick Barnes, who has guided multiple prospects to early-round selections, Ament will likely start at small forward. His role will stretch the Vols’ offense, utilizing pin‑downs and ball screens—in a setup often compared to how Kevin Durant was used in college .
Early mock drafts, including DraftExpress, Yahoo, and On3, project Ament in the top five—and in some cases fourth overall . With elite shot-making, positional versatility, and a steep developmental curve ahead, Ament is widely regarded as the 2026 “sleeper” with the greatest upside potential.
