“This was a very hard decision,” Nate Ament said. His choice to commit to Tennessee over powerhouse programs like Duke, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Louisville wasn’t made lightly. As ESPN’s No. 4 prospect in the class of 2025, he had plenty of options, but for Ament, it was about more than just basketball. It was about finding the right fit for his future.
Just 18 months ago, Ament was relatively unknown. Now, he’s a household name in high school basketball. His senior season at Highland High School earned him Virginia Boys’ Basketball Gatorade Player of the Year honors. USA Basketball came calling, too. Ament suited up for the FIBA Americas U18 Championship, helped lead Team USA to a gold medal, and looked every bit like a future star on that stage.
But here’s the thing: Nate’s not just building a career on the court — he’s building a brand too. In a world where NIL deals are changing the game, Ament is ahead of the curve. He’s already locked in partnerships that most high school athletes could only dream about — and truthfully, this is only the beginning.
What are Nate Ament’s High School stats?
Nate Ament’s basketball journey didn’t start under bright gym lights or in some fancy training facility. It started the old-school way — outside, with his brother and a couple of friends, just grinding on a court for the love of the game. “Back in 2019, that’s when it all clicked for me,” Ament said. “I was training outside with my brother and some buddies, and I just knew — this is what I want to do with my life.” Fast forward a few years, and that love turned into something serious.
Ament became the heart of Highland School’s basketball team in Virginia. He led them to three straight state championships, and by his senior year, he was putting up big-time numbers: 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 2.2 assists a game. But he saved his best for when it mattered most. In the state championship game, with everything on the line, Ament dropped 24 points and grabbed 18 boards, helping Highland take down Bishop O’Connell 56-51 to lock up the VISAA Division 1 title.
That performance — and his whole season, really — earned him the Gatorade Player of the Year for Virginia. That made him the first player ever from Highland to take home that honor. And the national spotlight? It was already on him. He played in the McDonald’s All-American Game and the Nike Hoop Summit, two of the biggest showcases for high school talent in the country.
By the time his senior year wrapped up, Ament had racked up 29 Division I offers. Powerhouses like Duke, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Louisville were all knocking at his door. But in the end, he picked Tennessee. Something about the program, the fit, and the future just felt right. From backyard sessions to state titles, Nate Ament’s story is just getting started. And if his high school run is any sign of what’s coming next — Tennessee fans are in for a show.
What are Nate Ament’s NIL deals and sponsorships?
Right before kicking off his senior season, Ament made a power move: he signed a major NIL deal with Reebok. Not just any deal, though. He became one of the first high school athletes ever to launch a Player Exclusive sneaker in stores! The brand, with Shaq and Allen Iverson at the helm has been working on a big comeback in the basketball world, and they saw Ament as a key piece of the puzzle. The Lakers’ icon said it himself: “He’s a great kid from an amazing family with superstar potential.”
But Ament didn’t stop there.
In early 2024, he teamed up with Fanstake, a new NIL platform that flipped college recruiting on its head. Instead of picking a school the old-school way, Ament let the fans get involved. They could stake money on the school they wanted him to choose — and if he picked it, that money went to him. Seriously.
When he still hadn’t made a decision, fans staked over $35,000, and more than 4,000 users jumped in on the action.
Ament didn’t just collect a check — he took equity in Fanstake, betting on the long-term vision. After a federal ruling in February cleared the way for recruits to discuss NIL deals with boosters, Ament became one of the first to fully embrace this new era.
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