Two Vols Featured On Naismith Trophy Watch List
Images: Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
By Aidan Sidoti
Volunteer hoops returns tonight and Tennessee landed two names on one of college basketball’s most prestigious watch lists.
Freshman forward Nate Ament and senior point guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie were both named to the Naismith Trophy College Player of the Year Watch List on Monday afternoon.
Ament, a 6-foot-10 true freshman out of Manassas, Virginia, is the highest-rated recruit to ever sign with the Vols.
He averaged 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 2.2 assists as a senior at Highland High School, leading his team to a 42-8 record and a Virginia state title.
The Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year brings elite length and versatility to Rick Barnes’ frontcourt and Tennessee could deploy Ament much like Barnes did with Kevin Durant during his freshman season at Texas.
Gillespie, a transfer from Maryland and Belmont, started all 36 games for the Terrapins last season during their run to the Sweet Sixteen. He’ll now take over as Tennessee’s starting point guard following Zakai Zeigler’s departure.
The senior averaged 14.7 points, 4,8 assists, and 1.9 steals per game while shooting over 40% from three and 86% from the line, making him one of the most efficient point guards in the Big 10.
Tennessee opens its season tonight at 7 p.m. ET on SEC Network+ against Mercer inside Thompson-Boling Arena.
