Five-star small forward Nate Ament discusses Mark Pope and Kentucky: ‘It’s hard not to be impressed with what he’s showing me right now.’
Nate Ament is one of 13 prospects from the class of 2025 with an offer from the Kentucky Wildcats. Head coach Mark Pope and assistant coach Cody Fueger, who previously recruited him at BYU, have continued their efforts at Kentucky.
Ament appreciates what he’s hearing from the new staff in Lexington. Ranked No. 7 overall by the On3 Industry Ranking and considered a five-star prospect, Ament spoke highly of the Kentucky coaches.
“They’re great people,” Ament told KSR about the Kentucky coaches. “They FaceTime me often and talk to me a lot. They have a great sense of humor and are great guys. It’s been great getting to know them. Mark Pope, during his time at BYU, had a great team that shot a lot of threes. That’s attractive to me as a player. He’s a great offensive mind and a great coach. It’s hard not to like what he’s showing me right now.”
Pope’s offensive strategy is what particularly catches Ament’s attention. He believes it’s a system that aligns well with his skills.
“I think it definitely suits my game,” he remarked. “I feel comfortable playing fast, slowing it down when needed, spreading the ball, shooting the three, and doing whatever they ask of me.”
Ament is a versatile 6-foot-9 forward known for his sharp shooting abilities.
He has impressed during the adidas 3SSB Palmetto Road Championship this week with Team Loaded VA, consistently scoring in double digits and grabbing over 10 rebounds per game with high efficiency. He shares the court with his four-star teammate Kaden Magwood from Louisville.
“I’m very adaptable,” Ament said about his playing style. “I can play multiple positions and I’m not limited to a specific role. I can stretch the floor with my shooting ability, excel from deep range, handle the ball, and my mid-range game is among the best in high school right now.”
With his impressive skill set, Ament is attracting interest from numerous top-tier schools. He mentioned Virginia, Duke, North Carolina, Kansas, Kentucky, UConn, Tennessee, LSU, Indiana, Arkansas, and Oregon as schools actively reaching out to him, noting there are others as well.
Currently, Ament has not finalized any official visit plans, but he is actively arranging visits. He aims to visit as many schools as possible, particularly those he listed. He plans to start these visits in August.
“I want to give every school a fair chance because I want to go where I feel wanted, not just to a big-name school,” he explained. “I’m looking for a program with strong player development where I can continue to improve.”
There is no specific timeline set for his commitment decision. Kentucky remains a strong contender and will have the opportunity to present their best case over the coming months.
