Rwandan-American basketball prospect Nate Ament has been selected 13th overall in the 2026 NBA Draft, marking another major milestone in a rapidly rising career.
The 19-year-old forward was chosen by the Miami Heat in the first round on Tuesday night before his draft rights were traded to the Milwaukee Bucks. Ament becomes one of the highest-selected players in the history of the University of Tennessee basketball program and its highest draft pick since Marcus Haislip was selected 13th overall in 2002.
Born in the United States to a Rwandan mother and an American father, Ament has embraced his dual heritage throughout his basketball journey. He has previously spoken about the importance of representing Rwanda and inspiring young people through his success. That connection was also evident on draft night, when he incorporated Rwanda-themed elements into his suit.
Ament enters the NBA after an impressive freshman campaign at Tennessee, where he averaged 16.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.0 steals per game. He started all 35 games he played and finished the season with 584 points, the third-highest scoring total by a freshman in program history.
His performances earned him Second Team All-SEC honors from both the media and conference coaches, while he was also named to the SEC All-Freshman Team. Ament further received NABC First Team All-Central District recognition and was among the finalists for both the Julius Erving Award and the Kyle Macy Award.
The Manassas, Virginia native was the second player selected from the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in this year’s draft and one of the first freshmen to come off the board. His selection continues Tennessee’s strong presence in the NBA Draft, with the Volunteers producing at least one draft pick in seven of the last eight years.
Ament also adds to the legacy of Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes, becoming the 36th NBA Draft pick developed under Barnes during his coaching career.
With his combination of size, versatility and scoring ability, Ament now begins the next chapter of his basketball journey in Milwaukee, where expectations will be high for one of the most promising young talents from the 2026 draft class.
