Nate Ament's Recruitment Heats Up as He Visits Top Programs

Highland School (Va.) senior Nate Ament, a highly sought-after basketball prospect, has been making the rounds on the recruiting trail, with official visits to several top programs. The 6-foot-9, 185-pound five-star has expressed interest in the University of North Carolina (UNC) basketball program, but his recruitment has been focused on other schools so far.

Ament's Whirlwind Recruitment Tour Gains Momentum

Texas, Tennessee, and Kansas State Emerge as Frontrunners

Nate Ament's recruitment has been a whirlwind, with the talented senior currently on an official visit to the University of Texas. This visit comes on the heels of his recent inclusion on the UNC basketball recruiting wishlist back in late May. However, the Tar Heels have yet to host Ament for an official visit, as the young prospect has already locked in trips to Tennessee and Kansas State.The Tennessee visit is scheduled to take place on October 19th, while the Kansas State trip is set for the second weekend of February. These three schools – Texas, Tennessee, and Kansas State – have emerged as the primary contenders in Ament's recruitment thus far, with no official visit to Chapel Hill reported as of yet.

Ament's Recruitment Remains Wide Open

Despite the flurry of official visits, Ament has yet to name any finalists in his recruitment. The 17-year-old pure scorer has expressed a desire to thoroughly explore his options before making a decision, indicating that he feels no rush to pick a winner. This approach is evident in his February trip to Kansas State, where he will likely take a closer look at the Wildcats' program.Ament's recruitment has been on an upward trajectory, as he recently rose to the No. 4 overall spot on the 247Sports 2025 Composite rankings, a significant jump from his previous position. This surge in his ranking has only added to the growing interest from top programs across the country.

UNC Coaches Make Their Presence Felt

Despite the lack of an official visit to Chapel Hill, the Tar Heels have made their presence felt in Ament's recruitment. Fourth-year UNC basketball head coach Hubert Davis and his entire staff visited the talented prospect at his school earlier this month, signaling their strong interest in securing his commitment.This visit by the UNC coaching staff suggests that the Tar Heels see themselves as bonafide contenders in the Nate Ament sweepstakes. The program's recent success, coupled with its reputation for developing elite talent, could make it an attractive destination for the highly-touted recruit.

UNC Secures First 2025 Commit

While Ament's recruitment remains open, the Tar Heels have already secured their first 2025 commit. On Friday afternoon, Hubert Davis and his staff landed a commitment from Gonzaga College High School (D.C.) four-star guard Derek Dixon, a promising addition to the program's future.This early commitment could be a sign of the Tar Heels' continued success on the recruiting trail, as they look to build a strong foundation for the 2025 class. With Ament still in play, UNC will undoubtedly be working hard to secure the services of another top-tier talent to complement their existing commitments.As Nate Ament's recruitment continues to unfold, the basketball world will be closely watching to see where the highly-coveted prospect ultimately decides to take his talents. With several top programs vying for his signature, the decision promises to be a closely watched and highly anticipated one.