Tennessee Basketball Now Boasts Nation’s New No. 1 Recruit
Image: Nate Ament/Instagram
By Aidan Sidoti
Tennessee basketball’s highest‑ranked commit of all time has climbed even higher in the rankings.
Freshman forward Nate Ament has ascended from No. 4 to No. 1 in the 2025 cycle, according to the latest 247Sports rankings.
He now carries a perfect 100 rating, making him the first No. 1 overall recruit to sign with the Volunteers.
The recognition is no surprise to Rick Barnes, who knew exactly what the Vols were getting when Ament committed on Apr. 20.
“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 on The Players Era podcast in August.
Ament’s résumé is as decorated as any recruit in recent memory.
He was a McDonald’s All-American, a gold medalist with Team USA at the 2024 FIBA U18 AmeriCup, and the Gatorade Virginia Player of the Year after averaging 19 points and 10 rebounds during his senior season at Highland School in Warrenton, VA.
He also led Highland to a 42-8 record and a state championship, solidifying his status as the nation’s top prospect.
Now on campus in Knoxville, Ament has already impressed in practice and is expected to be one of the most-watched freshmen in college basketball this season.
His combination of size, skill, and athleticism gives the Volunteers a potential game-changer as Tennessee looks to build off last year’s Elite Eight loss to Houston and pursue the program’s first Final Four appearance.
