KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – University of Tennessee men’s basketball newcomer Nate Ament is on the Wayman Tisdale Award Midseason Watch List, as announced Thursday afternoon by the USBWA.
The forward is one of 15 players who made the cut, including one of two from the SEC, alongside Arkansas’ Darius Acuff Jr.
Since the 1988-89 season, the USBWA has named a men’s freshman national player of the year. The award has been named for Wayman Tisdale, the late Oklahoma All-American, since 2010-11. The honor is voted on by the entire membership of the association at the end of the regular season.
“One of the primary storylines and talking points over the first 10 weeks of this terrific season has been the quality and collective talent of this freshman class,” USBWA President Matt Norlander said. “This really might be the best group of first-year players in the history of college basketball. It’s an amazing coup for the sport and should lead to significant interest nationwide in college basketball by the time we get to March. Our Midseason Watch List for the Tisdale Award is 15 names deep, but in speaking to the depth of the class: we had more than 25 freshmen receive a vote on ballots submitted by board members.”
Ament is averaging 15.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.4 steals per game. He co-leads the Volunteers in rebounding, made free throws (86) and free-throw attempts (114), while placing second in total points, assists, steals, field goals (78) and 3-pointers (19).
A native of Manassas, Va., Ament has produced 15-plus points and four-plus rebounds in 10 of his 17 outings this year, notching at least 18 points and seven rebounds in six appearances. He owns four 20-point performances, including three against Power Five competition.
Additionally, the 6-foot-10, 207-pounder has pulled down at least five rebounds in 14 of his 17 collegiate outings, with seven-plus in eight of them. He has four games with at least four assists, twice tallying five, to go along with seven multiple-steal showings, including two with four takeaways.
The three-time SEC Freshman of the Week was recently one of nine freshmen named to the Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 Watch List. He was voted a Preseason Second Team All-SEC designee by both the media and the coaches.
Ament and No. 24/RV Tennessee (12-5, 2-2 SEC) continue play Saturday at noon against Kentucky, live on ESPN from Food City Center.
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.
WAYMAN TISDALE AWARD MIDSEASON WATCH LIST
Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas
Nate Ament, Tennessee
Cameron Boozer, Duke
Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville
Brayden Burries, Arizona
Thijs De Ridder, Virginia
A.J. Dybantsa, BYU
Kingston Flemings, Houston
Braylon Mullins, Connecticut
Ebuka Okorie, Stanford
Koa Peat, Arizona
Darryn Peterson, Kansas
Hannes Steinbach, Washington
Keaton Wagler, Illinois
Caleb Wilson, North Carolina
