Tennessee’s Nate Ament has officially declared for the NBA Draft — and he’s now projected to join a recent NBA champion led by a two-time MVP. The freshman forward made his decision on the very last day players were allowed to enter, ending weeks of speculation and internal debate within his agency.

After another season that saw the Volunteers fall one game short of the Final Four, the expectation was that Ament would make the jump to the pros. But according to Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports, his agency, LIFT Sports Management, was genuinely split on the move. “League front office executives tell me that his agency… is split on the decision because they believe that Ament could be the No. 1 pick in 2027,” O’Connor wrote.

In the end, Ament chose to take his shot now. In a heartfelt farewell to Knoxville, he wrote: “I promise to always represent the Vols with the utmost pride. This University means more to me than just basketball — to me it’s a place I call home. I might’ve only been here a year but I’ll remember this year for the rest of my life.”

Now, all eyes are on where he lands. Growing buzz suggests Ament could be headed to the Milwaukee Bucks, a team that won the NBA title in 2021 and still features two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. O’Connor noted that “the Bucks should take a swing to jump-start their new era,” adding that “players who can handle, shoot off the dribble, and stand at 6-foot-10 don’t grow on trees.”

Ament’s size and skill set would add serious length alongside Antetokounmpo and Myles Turner. Despite a slow start to his freshman season, his ability to handle the ball and create his own shot kept him in lottery consideration. If he lands in Milwaukee, he could be the perfect piece to help the Bucks reload for another championship run.