Tennessee basketball coach Rick Barnes has despatched an enthusiastic message to Milwaukee Bucks followers after the franchise acquired NBA Draft 2026 prospect Nate Ament from the Miami Warmth.
Chosen thirteenth total within the draft, the Rwandan-American ahead was included amongst three first-round picks despatched to Milwaukee as a part of Monday's blockbuster commerce for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Earlier than getting into the NBA, Ament starred for the College of Tennessee underneath Barnes, one among faculty basketball's most revered coaches, who has additionally mentored NBA stars akin to Kevin Durant.
Talking in a video message posted on X on June 24, Barnes expressed his confidence within the 19-year-old's future.
“They've obtained the steal of the draft,” Barnes mentioned. “As time performs out, every little thing that you just and I talked about, every little thing you wish to do at that stage, goes to occur.”
Barnes has lengthy been one among Ament's largest believers. Through the recruiting course of, he even confirmed the previous five-star prospect a movie of Durant as a approach of illustrating the ceiling he believed Ament might attain.
Ament averaged 16.7 factors, 6.3 rebounds and a couple of.3 assists throughout his lone season with the Tennessee Volunteers.
NBA Draft 2026: Rick Barnes' gesture displays Nate Ament's worth to Tennessee
He’s the eleventh participant drafted into the NBA underneath Barnes throughout his tenure at Tennessee. He's the primary lottery choose of the Barnes' period and fifth first-rounder, becoming a member of Dalton Knecht (2024), Keon Johnson (2021), Jaden Springer (2021) and Grant Williams (2019).
Tennessee's final lottery choose was Marcus Haislip, who additionally went thirteenth total to the Bucks within the 2002 NBA Draft.
