University of Tennessee Athletics
Photo by: Elliot Walker/Tennessee Athletics
Ament on Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 Watch List
January 07, 2026 | Men's Basketball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – University of Tennessee men's basketball newcomer Nate Ament is among the selections to the John R. Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 Watch List, as announced Wednesday night.
The forward is one of nine freshmen in the country who made the cut, including one of only two from the SEC. In total, four SEC competitors made the cut, as Ament joined Arkansas' Darius Acuff Jr. (freshman), Florida's Thomas Haugh and Alabama's Labaron Philon Jr.
Selected by a midseason poll of national college basketball experts, the list comprises 25 student-athletes who are frontrunners for the Wooden Award All-American Team. The Wooden Award is celebrating its 50th season in 2025-26.
Featuring a refined group of the nation's most impactful performers, the Wooden Award Men's Midseason Top 25 Watch List highlights the players who have distinguished themselves through the heart of the college basketball season.
Players not selected for the list remain eligible for inclusion on the Wooden Award late-season list and the National Ballot, the latter of which will feature 15 top players who have demonstrated to their universities that they meet or exceed the Wooden Award qualifications.
Ament is averaging 14.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game on the year. He leads the Volunteers in rebounding, as well as in free throws made (72) and attempted (97).
The Manassas, Va., native has scored 18-plus points six times. He has posted at least 20 points in three appearances, two of which were against Power Five foes on neutral courts.
In addition, Ament has grabbed at least five rebounds in 13 of 15 contests, with seven-plus in seven and nine-plus in four. He has two five-assist performances and two four-steal outings.
A three-time SEC Freshman of the Week, Ament was tabbed a Preseason Second Team All-SEC choice by both the media and the coaches. He was also selected to four preseason national player of the year watch lists, including the Wooden Award list.
Ament and No. 21/22 Tennessee (11-4, 1-1 SEC) take the Stephen C. O'Connell Center court Saturday at noon in Gainesville, Fla., for a matchup with Florida, live on ESPN.
To keep up with the University of Tennessee men's basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.
The forward is one of nine freshmen in the country who made the cut, including one of only two from the SEC. In total, four SEC competitors made the cut, as Ament joined Arkansas' Darius Acuff Jr. (freshman), Florida's Thomas Haugh and Alabama's Labaron Philon Jr.
Selected by a midseason poll of national college basketball experts, the list comprises 25 student-athletes who are frontrunners for the Wooden Award All-American Team. The Wooden Award is celebrating its 50th season in 2025-26.
Featuring a refined group of the nation's most impactful performers, the Wooden Award Men's Midseason Top 25 Watch List highlights the players who have distinguished themselves through the heart of the college basketball season.
Players not selected for the list remain eligible for inclusion on the Wooden Award late-season list and the National Ballot, the latter of which will feature 15 top players who have demonstrated to their universities that they meet or exceed the Wooden Award qualifications.
Ament is averaging 14.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game on the year. He leads the Volunteers in rebounding, as well as in free throws made (72) and attempted (97).
The Manassas, Va., native has scored 18-plus points six times. He has posted at least 20 points in three appearances, two of which were against Power Five foes on neutral courts.
In addition, Ament has grabbed at least five rebounds in 13 of 15 contests, with seven-plus in seven and nine-plus in four. He has two five-assist performances and two four-steal outings.
A three-time SEC Freshman of the Week, Ament was tabbed a Preseason Second Team All-SEC choice by both the media and the coaches. He was also selected to four preseason national player of the year watch lists, including the Wooden Award list.
Ament and No. 21/22 Tennessee (11-4, 1-1 SEC) take the Stephen C. O'Connell Center court Saturday at noon in Gainesville, Fla., for a matchup with Florida, live on ESPN.
To keep up with the University of Tennessee men's basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.
Players Mentioned
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