The Duke Blue Devils are trailing a fellow ACC school in the recruitment of five-star prospect Nate Ament, a 6-foot-10, 220-pound power forward from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Ament, who is widely regarded as one of the top prospects in the 2026 recruiting class, has been heavily pursued by several top programs, including Duke, North Carolina, and Virginia.
According to sources close to the recruitment, Ament is currently leaning towards the North Carolina Tar Heels, who have been aggressively pursuing him for several months. The Tar Heels have a strong track record of developing elite big men, and Ament is said to be impressed by the program’s commitment to excellence.
Despite trailing in the recruitment, the Duke Blue Devils remain a serious contender for Ament’s services. The Blue Devils have a rich tradition of success, and head coach Jon Scheyer has been actively recruiting Ament for several months.
“Nate is an exceptional talent with a tremendous work ethic,” Scheyer said. “We believe he would be a great fit for our program, and we’re excited to continue recruiting him.”
Ament is a dominant force on the court, with a strong combination of size, strength, and athleticism. He is a consensus five-star recruit and is widely regarded as one of the top prospects in the 2026 recruiting class.
The loss of Ament would be a significant blow to the Blue Devils’ 2026 recruiting class, which is currently ranked among the top 10 in the country. However, Scheyer and his staff remain confident that they can land several other elite prospects in the coming months.
“We’re excited about the talent we have in our 2026 recruiting class, and we’re confident that we can add several other elite prospects in the coming months,” Scheyer said.
In addition to Ament, the Blue Devils are also pursuing several other top prospects, including five-star small forward Tyler Bey and four-star point guard Jalen Thompson. The Blue Devils are expected to be major players in the recruitment of both prospects, and could potentially land one or both of them in the coming months.
Overall, while the loss of Ament would be a significant blow to the Blue Devils’ 2026 recruiting class, Scheyer and his staff remain confident that they can land several other elite prospects in the coming months. The Blue Devils’ recruiting efforts will be worth watching in the coming weeks and months.
The recruitment of Nate Ament is a prime example of the intense competition for top talent in college basketball. The Blue Devils, Tar Heels, and Cavaliers are all elite programs with rich traditions of success, and each school is aggressively pursuing Ament’s services.
In the end, Ament’s decision will likely come down to which program he feels is the best fit for him, both on and off the court. The Blue Devils, Tar Heels, and Cavaliers all have a lot to offer, and Ament will have to weigh his options carefully before making a decision.
One thing is certain, however: Nate Ament is an exceptional talent, and whichever program lands him will be getting an elite player with a bright future ahead of him.