The NBA draft will be held June 23-24 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Tennessee freshman forward Nate Ament declared for the NBA draft ahead of a deadline for early entries.
Bryan Kalbrosky of USA TODAY released an updated NBA mock draft after the early entry deadline. 71 players submitted their official applications for the draft.
In his mock draft, picks 15-60 are currently set, but an official order will not be determined until the draft lottery on May 10. The first 14 picks are based on lottery odds.
Kalbrosky projects Ament to be drafted by Charlotte in the first round with the No. 14 overall pick.
"Tennessee freshman Nate Ament reportedly considered returning to college to aim for the No. 1 pick in the 2027 NBA Draft," Kalbrosky said. "His decision to declare for this class, instead, suggests he is likely comfortable with the feedback he has received so far. The freshman averaged 21.6 points per game, while shooting 38.9 percent on 3-pointers, during a 13-game stretch before an injury against Alabama on Feb. 28. The All-SEC forward then had 27 points (4-of-6 on 3-pointers) with eight rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a steal against Auburn on March 12. He was not as efficient during March Madness, but it will only take one team to fall in love with Ament, and that team is likely picking near the lottery."
The 2025-26 NBA season was the third for former Tennessee forward Grant Williams with the Hornets. Dallas traded the former Vol and Seth Curry to Charlotte for forward P.J. Washington ahead of the 2024 NBA deadline.
Ament would join Williams in Charlotte if the Hornets selected the 6-foot-10, 207-pound forward.
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This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Two Vols projected to be teammates in 2026 NBA mock draft