BY ADAM ZAGORIA
NEW YORK — Five-star forward Nate Ament is a popular guy here at this week’s McDonald’s All-American Game.
As one of just two undecided players in Tuesday’s game (9 p.m., ESPN2), Ament is hearing recruiting pitches from many of his fellow McDonald’s selections.
The 6-foot-9 Ament is considering Duke, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Louisville and shared that he will not be announcing on Tuesday at the game, and told ZAGSBLOG he doesn’t have an announcement date in mind.
“Yeah, there’s been a lot of players that are committed to the schools in my top five, a lot of them on the East team, like Darius [Acuff] and Cameron [Boozer], Cameron and Cayden [Boozer], but they just been telling me they [would] love to have me — friendly banter here and there between them,” Ament said. “So it does a lot for me to hear from the players that have committed to that school, to hear that they want to play with me.”
Nate Ament says he won’t announce tomorrow but didn’t name a date to announce among his Top 5
Says Cam and Cayden Boozer and other here are ‘in his ear’ along with others in the McDonald’s Game https://t.co/Pfeq5Z5Msn
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) March 31, 2025
What are some of the recruiting pitches?
Kentucky commit Malachi Moreno: “My pitch has been just, you’ve seen what Kentucky has, you know, they have legends, crazy fan base, amazing coach, amazing coaching staff, awesome facilities,” Moreno said. “And it’s a great place to be. It’s really basketball focused, and it’s a real, true place where you can grow and you can reach your dreams.”
Louisville commit Mikel Brown: “I’ve been talking to Nate every single day about, honestly. At the end of the day, it’s his decision, so it just comes down to him and his family. But obviously I’m making a pitch and I’m trying to get him locked in….At the end of the day it’s Nate’s decision and I’ll be happy for him either way.”
Duke commit Nik Khamenia: “There’s a lot of work that I’ve been putting in. You probably won’t see him going a day without me sitting next to him at a random table. I definitely let him know about the Brotherhood and just the special family that he can be a part of. I think we can be really similar to this year’s team, just in the way that they win, if we add another superstar piece like Nate Ament that can do a lot of different things. I think he just fits so well, just because of his versatility and how he plays the game.”
Arkansas commit Meleek Thomas: “I would say my pitch to Nate has just been if you want to come play with winners, if you want to come play with winners and play with players that’s really going to be for you, like I’m not just telling him to come to Arkansas just because we want another five-star, just because we want another very good player. I’m telling him to come to Arkansas just because we feel he could really be an asset for our team. We feel he could really like, with us two [Meleek and Acuff Jr.], we already said we could win a natty without nobody else. So imagine we get another high-caliber player like that, and the sky’s the limit for us. So me telling us like we want to win. We’re not going to be selfish with the ball. Everybody going to eat if you come play with us. So that’s really been my biggest [pitch].”
As for what will go into his commitment, Ament said:
“As far as my commitment goes, definitely going to I want to have play for a coach that believes in me. He’s going to push me to be better than I already am, but also allow me to, you know, showcase my skills and teach me how to play the game the right way. Also, you know, a great recruiting class, you know, players I want to play with. Players that want to play with me. Those two things are huge. And then also, just like, you know, how the team, the culture of the school and the team, do they have a family aspect? Do they bond well, on and off the court. So those things are probably going to play the biggest part, too.”
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