BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Tennessee freshman forward Nate Ament was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks with the No. 13 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft on Tuesday night.
The selection made Ament the highest-drafted Volunteer in 24 years.
Ament is Tennessee’s highest NBA Draft pick since Marcus Haislip was selected No. 13 overall in 2002. The freshman forward is one of the highest selections in program history and continues Tennessee’s recent run of producing NBA talent.
Ament arrived in Knoxville as one of the nation’s top recruits and quickly lived up to the billing. The 6-foot-9 forward started all 37 games for the Volunteers, averaging 15.5 points and 6.6 rebounds per contest while earning SEC All-Freshman Team honors. He scored in double figures 31 times and helped lead Tennessee to a 32-9 record and an Elite Eight appearance in his lone collegiate season.
The pick originally belonged to the Miami Heat before being acquired by Milwaukee in a blockbuster trade that sent former NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to Miami earlier Tuesday.
The blockbuster trade included Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, and multiple future first-round selections.
He now joins a Milwaukee franchise entering a new era following the departure of Antetokounmpo.
Ament is the first of three Tennessee players projected to be selected in this year’s draft.
Volunteers guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie and forward Felix Okpara are expected to hear their names called during Wednesday’s second round.
Ament’s selection continues a recent trend of Tennessee players hearing their names called early in the NBA Draft. Dalton Knecht went No. 17 overall to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2024. Keon Johnson was selected No. 21 overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in 2021.
