Rwanda’s Nate Ament selected by Miami in historic NBA draft

Rwandan-American basketball sensation Nate Ament reached a major milestone in his career after being selected with the 13th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, a moment that marks another significant achievement for basketball talent connected to Rwanda.

Born in Virginia to a Rwandan mother, Godelive, and an American father, Albert Ament, the 19-old has long embraced his Rwandan heritage.

His mother is a native of Rwanda, while his father is a former college basketball player and a member of the Wayne State Athletics Hall of Fame.

Ament has frequently spoken about his pride in his Rwandan roots and has even launched a special basketball shoe inspired by the colors of the Rwandan flag.

Standing 6-foot-10 (2.08m), Ament emerged as one of the most highly regarded prospects of his generation thanks to his rare combination of size, athleticism, ball-handling ability and shooting touch.

His basketball journey began in Virginia, where he attended Colgan High School before transferring to Highland School in Warrenton.

There, he developed into one of the nation’s elite high school players and earned recognition as Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year.

His outstanding performances earned him selection to prestigious events such as the McDonald’s All-American Game, the Jordan Brand Classic and the Nike Hoop Summit.

He also represented the United States at the 2024 FIBA Under-18 AmeriCup, helping Team USA win the gold medal.

Ranked among the top recruits in the Class of 2025, Ament chose to continue his development at the University of Tennessee under respected coach Rick Barnes.

In his lone collegiate season, he quickly established himself as one of the Southeastern Conference’s brightest young stars.

He started all 35 games for the Volunteers, averaging 16.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game while helping Tennessee reach the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.

His impressive freshman campaign earned him Second-Team All-SEC honors and a place on the SEC All-Freshman Team.

Scouts praised his versatility, court vision, defensive potential and ability to create scoring opportunities despite his towering frame.

Many analysts compared aspects of his game to NBA stars such as Kevin Durant, Brandon Ingram and Andrew Wiggins.

Although selected through Miami’s draft position, the pick was later linked to a transaction involving the Milwaukee Bucks, making him one of the most talked-about prospects on draft night.

For Rwanda, Ament’s selection represents a source of immense pride and further evidence of the country’s growing connection to global Basketball.

Ament now begins the next chapter of his journey on Basketball’s biggest stage—the NBA.