Tennessee Vols forward Nate Ament is expected to be at least a top 20 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft this week.

Predictions for the former Tennessee standout, who left Rocky Top after just one season, have been all over the place.

Some mock drafts have Ament getting selected in the top 10 while others have him falling completely out of the lottery.

Nate Ament reportedly made a decision that could impact where he’s drafted

ESPN’s Jeremy Woo dropped an interesting note about Ament on Monday.

Woo reported that Ament has declined to visit multiple teams that have a top 10 pick.

“Teams say [Ament] has been selective about scheduling workouts, declining to visit multiple teams in the top 10,” wrote Woo. “The Mavericks and Bucks are two possible landing spots. If those teams go a different direction, he could slide.”

I’m not positive why Ament declined to visit with those teams, but the reasonable assumption is that he doesn’t want to be selected by the teams he declined to meet with. And if that’s the case, I think it’s a misstep. Situations change all the time in the NBA (who would’ve dreamed two years ago that Luka Doncic would be playing for the Lakers). What looks like a good situation now could be a great situation down the road, and vice versa.

Declining to meet with certain teams in the top 10 does nothing but limit Ament’s options. As Woo noted, if Dallas and Milwaukee pass on Ament at No. 9 and No. 10, he could slide. Maybe if he doesn’t decline those visits, one of those teams falls in love with Ament and makes a trade to grab him in the event he slides.

Maybe Ament will comment on the decision when the time is right. He’s by all accounts a great teammate, a tremendous competitor, extremely coachable, and just an overall great person. I’m sure he has a reason for declining the visits, but I still can’t help but think it’s a misstep by the 19-year-old.