The Arkansas Razorbacks got a recent offseason boost with the additions of transfers Nick Pringle and Malique Ewin, but head coach John Calipari is far from done shaping the team’s frontcourt. With Trevon Brazile potentially returning, Arkansas is still searching for another versatile forward. One name that’s been circulating for months as a dream target is elite high school prospect Nate Ament.
Ament, a standout from Warrenton, Virginia, is a consensus top-five recruit in the 2025 class. The 6-foot-9 forward is already a McDonald’s All-American, a Nike Hoop Summit participant, and a Team USA member. His skill set—ball-handling, shooting, and court vision—makes him one of the most exciting prospects for the 2026 NBA Draft.
Originally, Ament was expected to announce his college decision on April 1, but he delayed the announcement. Arkansas fans initially saw this as a good sign, giving Calipari a chance to close the gap with Duke, who had been considered the frontrunner. However, recent developments suggest that Ament’s recruitment may be heading in a different direction—one that doesn’t favor the Razorbacks.
A surprising twist came earlier this week when it was revealed that Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes made an under-the-radar visit to Ament. Although the visit was kept quiet, sources confirmed Barnes made a personal trip on Monday to see the five-star prospect. This signals that the Volunteers are making a late push to land him.
Tennessee is returning key big men Felix Okpara and JP Estrella, and their incoming class includes top-100 recruits Amari Evans and DeWayne Brown II. Barnes also added portal talent in Ja’Kobi Gillespie (from Maryland) and Jaylen Carey (from Vanderbilt). While Tennessee used to land five-star recruits regularly, Barnes has recently leaned more toward experienced transfers—a trend seen across college basketball.
In 2024, portal addition Dalton Knecht was pivotal in Tennessee’s Elite Eight run and earned SEC Player of the Year. This past season, Chaz Lanier stepped into a leading role, guiding the Vols to another deep tournament run alongside veteran point guard Zakai Ziegler. Although Barnes has never taken Tennessee to a Final Four, he’s come closer than ever in recent years.
His pursuit of Ament signals a strategic shift—balancing high-end young talent with proven experience. Ament could be the type of player who immediately impacts the team and elevates the Vols’ ceiling. Notably, 247Sports analyst Travis Branham recently stated that Tennessee has closed the gap with Duke and even placed a “crystal ball” prediction in favor of the Vols landing Ament.
Meanwhile, Louisville is also pushing hard in the final stretch of Ament’s recruitment. The Cardinals have already stocked their backcourt with transfers Adrian Wooley, Ryan Conwell, and Isaac McKneely, but head coach Pat Kelsey wants more. He’s zeroed in on Ament to fortify a frontcourt still in development.
Louisville may have an inside edge, too. Mikel Brown Jr., a five-star Louisville signee and Ament’s current roommate at the Nike Hoop Summit, has been personally lobbying Ament to join him. “I’ve been talking to him every day,” Brown said, indicating that he’s working behind the scenes to sway his teammate.
Despite Brown’s efforts, insiders like Branham believe Louisville remains behind the leading trio of Duke, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Kentucky’s interest in Ament seems to be cooling, though, as their attention shifts to international star Dame Sarr, another projected lottery pick.
With Tennessee gaining momentum, Arkansas’s chances appear to be slipping away. Local and national analysts are beginning to align on a consensus: the Razorbacks are likely out of the running.
Connor Goodson, a former contributor to Best of Arkansas Sports and now with HawgSports, echoed that sentiment during a livestream earlier this week. “It sounds like that ship has sailed,” Goodson said of Arkansas’s involvement with Ament.
He noted that Calipari initially put a strong push behind Ament but has probably had to reassess. With the risk of waiting too long on Ament and potentially losing out on other top portal options, the staff appears to be shifting gears. “At some point,” Goodson said, “you have to move on and avoid being left with scraps.”
With forward Adou Thiero leaving for the NBA Draft, Arkansas is in urgent need of another frontcourt player. Missing out on Ament would be disappointing, but it would also free up resources for Calipari to pursue a seasoned transfer.
The team already has a strong foundation of young talent. Two five-star freshmen are set to join, along with role players Isaiah Sealy and Karim Rtail. Rather than relying solely on youth, adding experienced players might create better team chemistry. Several names have been floated as potential fits, including Florida State’s Jamir Watkins, Texas Tech’s Darrion Williams, and Auburn’s Chad Baker-Mazara—an eccentric but highly seasoned option.
From a fan perspective, if Arkansas doesn’t land Ament, they’d much prefer he goes to Duke rather than a rival like Tennessee or Kentucky. If Tennessee ultimately wins the recruiting battle, it could actually benefit Arkansas. The Vols would likely commit a significant amount of NIL funds to land Ament, making it difficult for them to also secure Memphis transfer PJ Haggerty, another top target. Haggerty is reportedly seeking around $3 million in NIL compensation.
With the portal still open until Tuesday and new names entering daily, Arkansas still has time and flexibility. They’re in a good position with roster spots open and funds available, making them a strong player in the final phase of portal season.
Even if the Ament chase ends in disappointment, there are still plenty of opportunities for Calipari to bring in another high-impact frontcourt player to complement the team’s mix of elite freshmen and returning stars like DJ Wagner, Trevon Brazile, and Billy Richmond.
