Nate Ament, a rising basketball star with Rwandan roots, was selected by the Miami Heat in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft before being immediately traded to the Milwaukee Bucks.
The 19-year-old, who played college basketball for the University of Tennessee, made headlines not only for his draft selection but also for wearing a jacket featuring the words “Visit Rwanda” during the event.
The annual NBA Draft allows all 30 NBA teams to select young talent based on the previous season’s standings.
The first round of the 2026 draft took place early Wednesday morning at the Barclays Center in New York. This year’s draft consists of 60 players selected over two rounds, with the second round scheduled for Thursday.
Ament was chosen with the 13th overall pick by Miami Heat before his rights were traded to Milwaukee Bucks.
During the 2025/26 season with Tennessee, Ament appeared in all 35 games and started every one of them. He averaged:
- 16.7 points per game
- 6.3 rebounds per game
- 2.3 assists per game
His career-high performance came on February 18, 2026, when he scored 29 points against Oklahoma Sooners men’s basketball.
He recorded a season-high 11 rebounds against Vanderbilt Commodores men’s basketball on March 13, and his highest assist tally—five assists—came against Ole Miss Rebels men’s basketball on February 11.
Tennessee has now produced 58 NBA players in its history, and Ament became the 11th player drafted into the NBA under head coach Rick Barnes.
Ament has repeatedly spoken about his connection to Rwanda through his mother, who was born and raised in the country.
“My mother was born and raised there, so part of me is Rwandan. I also have an uncle who lives there. Every time I visit, it’s a great experience because I continue learning more about my country, my family, and my roots,” he previously said.
The young star has also expressed interest in one day representing Rwanda on the international stage, saying it would bring him great joy to make Rwandans proud.
At the age of 17, Ament represented the United States at the 2024 FIBA Under-18 AmeriCup in 2024.
In 2025, he was ranked fourth among the top 100 high school basketball prospects in the United States, cementing his reputation as one of the country’s most promising young talents.
In August 2025, Ament visited Rwanda, where he toured several of the country’s attractions and learned more about the progress being made in the development of basketball.
Now, with his journey to the NBA officially underway, the Rwandan-American prospect is set to begin the next chapter of his career with the Milwaukee Bucks, carrying with him both immense talent and a deep connection to his mother’s homeland.
