Boom! 6-foot-9 small forward out of Highland School (VA) Finally Makes Decision to Join Pat Kelsey’s Louisville Cardinals Bringing His Superstar Potential To KFC Yum! Center

A commitment has emerged for the Five-Star Plus+ prospect.

In a stunning recruiting victory for Louisville, 6-foot-9 small forward Nate Ament, the top available prospect in the 2025 class, has committed to Pat Kelsey’s Louisville Cardinals. The Highland School (VA) standout, ranked No. 3 overall in On3’s Player Rankings, chose Louisville over Arkansas, Kentucky, Duke, and Tennessee, marking a major milestone in Kelsey’s recruiting efforts.

He previously considered programs such as Notre Dame, Alabama, BYU, Georgetown, Kansas State, and Texas.

Ament’s Shocking Decision

Ament Scouting Report

On3’s Jamie Shaw recently wrote the following scouting report for Nate Ament:

Nate Ament is On3’s No. 3 overall player in the class. The 6-foot-9 wing has been in the top 15 recruits for this 2025 class for On3 since the October 2023 update. While then, Ament was an On3 outlier, he is now making his case to be mentioned in the same conversation as the No. 1 overall player. In fact, playing on the same court as Dybantsa tonight, Ament was the best player on the floor.

Ament showcased a clam floor game. He proved the defense, was comfortable on the ball, playing in the half-court, and able to get to the spots he wanted. For starters, Ament is a threat from 28-plus feet out. He pulled up multiple times in this one to knock it down. Ament has a quick release on his no-dip shot. While he does not have the explosive burst of others, he has the ability to utilize his dribble to get to his kill spots in the half-court. Ament showed multiple pull-ups and floaters in this one. He attacked from the wing and also set up in the mid-post.

Ament, despite his thin frame, also rebounded the ball well. This got his team out quickly as his teammates filled the lanes and the 6-foot-9 Ament pushed the break. His thin frame is something that will need to be addressed in the long run. He has narrow shoulders and thin ankles, so how much strength he could put on will be interesting to monitor. Ament is an excellent passer, very unselfish and he is a quick processor with the ball in hand.

Ament’s recruitment was one of the most intensely followed in the 2025 class. For months, blue-blood programs like Duke and Kentucky were considered frontrunners, while Arkansas and Tennessee also made strong pushes. However, Louisville’s vision and Kelsey’s aggressive recruiting pitch won him over, giving the Cardinals a franchise-altering talent.

Why Louisville?

Several factors played into Ament’s decision:

Pat Kelsey’s System: The fast-paced, high-energy offense and freedom for skilled wings fit Ament’s three-level scoring ability perfectly.

Immediate Impact: Louisville offered a clear path to being a focal point of their system, something he may not have had at blue-blood schools.

Program’s Rebuild & Momentum: Kelsey’s new direction for Louisville was a key factor, showing Ament how he could be the face of the program’s resurgence.

Strong NIL Package: With the ever-evolving NIL landscape, Louisville’s backing made them a strong contender financially as well.

What Ament Brings to Louisville

Ament is an elite modern forward with:

Elite Size & Athleticism: At 6-foot-9, he has the length, agility, and frame to be a dominant force in college and the NBA.

Three-Level Scoring: He’s a smooth perimeter shooter, has a lethal mid-range jumper, and finishes well at the rim.

Defensive Versatility: His length allows him to guard multiple positions, making him a defensive asset.

Basketball IQ: Ament is a high-IQ player who makes the right reads and plays unselfishly within a system.

Louisville’s Recruiting on the Rise

With Ament now in the fold, Pat Kelsey has landed a program-changing talent, signaling Louisville’s return to national relevance. His commitment gives Louisville one of the best recruiting wins in recent years, showing that the Cardinals can compete with the nation’s top programs for elite talent.

Final Thoughts

This commitment is massive for Louisville basketball. Ament could be the cornerstone of Pat Kelsey’s rebuild, and his presence alone will help attract other top recruits. Louisville fans, get ready—Nate Ament is coming to the KFC Yum! Center, and the Cardinals just got a whole lot more dangerous!