Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball Target Shines in Raleigh With UNC Watching

The Duke basketball recruiters might soon see some competition from their archrivals in the Nate Ament sweepstakes.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
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Highland School (Va.) forward Nate Ament, who received a Duke basketball offer while visiting the Blue Devils in September, is in Raleigh, N.C., this week competing at the John Wall Holiday Invitational. His team is 0-2 through Thursday's contests; however, the 6-foot-8, 170-pound five-star junior has been prolific.

On Wednesday, Ament finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds. He did so with UNC basketball head coach Hubert Davis and one of his assistants, among others, sitting courtside. The Tar Heels have yet to enter the fray for his services but appear to be interested.

Ament posted another double-double on Thursday, this time with a game-high 32 points and 10 boards.

In the three-plus months since his trip to Durham, Nate Ament has jumped eight spots to No. 18 overall on the 247Sports 2025 Composite.

After scouting him on Wednesday, 247Sports' Travis Branham provided the following assessment of Ament's budding abilities and explanation behind his on-the-rise ranking:

"Nate Ament was one of the biggest breakout prospects this past summer. One reason 247Sports was so high on [him] at the time was his immature frame that looked like he might not be done growing.

"That was indeed the case. When Ament took the floor on Wednesday...he appeared to have sprouted to 6-foot-9 and still looks like he might not be done. The long, rangy and lengthy forward still has so much potential at his fingertips...Ament is one of the most intriguing prospects in high school with his blend of size, length and skill.

His offer sheet, which should grow in length given his performances this week at the top-tier prep tournament, includes over a dozen programs. Five of those suitors are from the ACC: Duke, Pitt, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest.

Remarkably, Ament is the lowest-ranked prospect on Duke basketball's eight-deep 2025 wishlist. 

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Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI.com for more Duke basketball recruiting news.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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