Tennessee Coaches Target Five-Star Forward Ament in Latest Recruitment Push

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The University of Tennessee men’s basketball program is intensifying its recruitment efforts for five-star forward Elijah Ament, according to a source familiar with the situation. The source, who asked to remain anonymous, revealed that Vols coach Rick Barnes visited Ament on Monday, as the team seeks to secure one of the top prospects in the 2025 recruiting class.

Ament, who stands at 6 feet 9 inches tall and weighs 185 pounds, is currently ranked as the No. 4 overall prospect in 2025 by the 247Sports Composite. Should he commit to Tennessee, he would become the highest-ranked recruit in the program’s history, a significant accolade for Barnes, who has already signed six five-star recruits during his tenure.

The forward is a standout player at Highland School in Warrenton, Virginia. He previously visited Tennessee on January 28 for a matchup against Kentucky, where he spent time with Barnes on the sidelines, potentially deepening his interest in the program.

Tennessee’s current recruiting class includes three players: four-star forward DeWayne Brown II, four-star guard Amari Evans, and three-star guard Trey Henderson. The Vols retain four scholarship athletes from last season: guards Bishop Boswell and recent transfers Ja'Kobi Gillespie from Maryland and Jaylen Carey from Vanderbilt, along with forwards J.P. Estrella, Felix Okpara, and Cade Phillips.

In related developments, the Vols are also eyeing potential transfer forward Elyjah Freeman, a standout freshman at Lincoln Memorial University. Freeman is set to visit Knoxville on Wednesday, following visits to Auburn and Indiana. He averaged 18.8 points and 9.2 rebounds per game during his freshman year and boasts impressive shooting statistics, with a 46.7% success rate beyond the arc.

The Tennessee coaching staff, including Barnes and multiple assistant coaches, previously visited Freeman to discuss potential transfer opportunities, highlighting the team’s proactive approach in building their roster for the upcoming season.