Nate Ament full breakdown

Mysterious prospect who has potential but requires development.

#12 Prospect: Nate Ament

Role: Developmental offensive oriented wing who spaces the floor with primary creation ability potential while providing plus length for complimentary defense within a team concept.

Rankings

Grade	Grade Rank	Ceiling Grade	Ceiling Rank
6.0	12th	7.1	12th

Anthropometrics/Agility

Height	Weight	Wingspan	Vertical	Shuttle	Agility
6' 9.5"	210.8	6' 11.5"	37	2.85	11.27

Intangibles

Strengths	Weaknesses
Size and length	Processing speed
In-season progress	Self-creation
Three level scoring potential	Defensive discipline

Summary

Ament is an enticing wing due to his size, length, and scoring potential. Unfortunately, he requires significant development to reach his ceiling. He presents as an offensive oriented wing with three level scoring ability. He possesses foundational skill sets such as footwork and shooting form but lacks the confidence and processing speed to execute consistently. Immediate on-court production is an unrealistic expectation as he will require extensive development to tap into his potential. His early role will revolve around his ability to space the floor and compete on the offensive glass while enhancing his decision making and self-creation ability. Defensively, Ament provides length to compliment a team defensive scheme. He lacks the lateral agility and foot speed to defend effectively out of isolation on the perimeter. He will require help from his teammates while also providing help using his height and length to disrupt passing lanes and contest shots. His defense also requires development to improve his awareness and reaction time, but his ceiling on defense is not as high as it projects on the offensive end.

Expectations

I expect Ament to earn a consistent role providing offensive scoring versatility coming off of the bench playing between 12-24 minutes a game. His early production on the offensive end will revolve around spacing the floor and crashing the offensive glass while he develops his self-creation, finishing, and passing ability. He has the potential to develop into a primary three level scoring wing based on his tools, but my expectations for him to reach that ceiling are low and will require a considerable amount of time and resources. His defensive projection is much lower since he lacks lateral agility, foot speed, and his intensity is variable. His length and size will allow him to compliment a defense rather than amplify one. If he reaches his offensive ceiling, he can establish himself as a high minute rotational starter or sixth man.

Strengths

Length and footwork, High release point, Improved confidence as the season progress, Foul drawing ability, 3-point/three level scoring potential, Unselfish passer, Steady in-season progress

Weaknesses

Processing speed and reaction time, Ball handling, Lateral agility, Defensive discipline, Physicality, Shot selection, Ball security, Rim finishing, Self-creation, Closeout effectiveness

Offensive Footwork

Offensive footwork is a positive attribute that Ament possesses although his consistency utilizing it lacks polish. At times, he looks confident with poise as he utilizes either pivot foot to create space out of the triple threat. He'll sequence jabs, ball fakes, and pivots to create an angle to exploit. He has a long first step and when executed properly, easily gets his defender on his hip. He also demonstrates the ability to play off two feet after his drive. Unfortunately, his execution to create a quality shot from this position needs further development as he often relies on his height and length to shoot over his opponent. The ability is present but the execution is lacking. With development, he can turn his off-balance contested shots into rhythm attempts. 

Offensive Reactions/IQ

This is an area that requires substantial growth. He has steadily improved as the season progressed, but overall, he requires too much time to process information and react. He catches the ball without anticipating his next move. He requires time to scan the court and figure out how to attack. Oftentimes, once he figures out what he will do, the advantage his team created is lost. 

Ball Handling

Ament is a basic ball handler. He can sequence multiple dribble moves together but this is not advisable as it exposes him to turnovers. He is better served to execute a single move and rely on his length to get by his defender or footwork to create space after playing off of two feet. Ament lacks quickness with the ball and requires his footwork and length to make up for that deficit. He also struggles versus pressure reducing his ability to serve as a primary initiator.

Shooting

Ament can score from all three levels. He has a high release point which makes it difficult for defenders to contest. He has sound rotation on his follow through but loses his form when pressured or shooting off of movement. His slow processing speed also affects his rhythm getting into his shooting motion. His delayed reactions result in contested shots which he struggles to maintain concentration and loses his form. From the midrange, he often settles for pullup or turnaround jumpers that lack efficiency due to the absence of space created during these attempts. His rim finishing ability also requires improvement as his balance and concentration is affected by contact.  

Passing

He is a willing passer who swings the ball quickly on the perimeter. His passes are predictable in nature and this exposes him to turnovers. Teams often jump his passes and he rarely exploits their aggressiveness by executing skip passes when they are available. He also lacks poise while executing passes in transition or while delivering a pass into the post. He wants to get his teammates involved and understands his gravity but he needs development to maximize his capabilities. 

Creation Ability

Overall, Ament is a limited creator, but not due to his ability, but rather because of his overall feel and processing. The foundational pieces to create quality attempts for himself and his teammates are present. He flashes advanced pivot moves out of the triple threat, low post, or after playing off of two feet but lacks consistency. He doesn't understand how to manipulate his defenders consistently although he possesses the tools to do so. With development, Ament can learn how to make the game easier for himself to improve his efficiency and offensive production. If he struggles to develop in this way, his effectiveness will remain capped to a supportive piece rather than a primary fixture.

Spacing/Movement

His ability to space the floor will be his lifeline to have a long career at the next level. His efficiency from 3 is poor but this is likely due to his confidence and lack of decisiveness. There are plenty of moments where Ament passed up on an open rhythm 3 which will be unacceptable at the next level. He moves well off the ball and maintains spacing for his teammates. He is willing to run off-ball actions to get open on the perimeter or for isolation opportunities in the midpost. Ament has also demonstrated the ability to read the defense and slip screens or execute backdoors to exploit defensive schemes.

Offensive Hustle

Ament is relatively active on the offensive glass. He crashes the glass well and demonstrates a willingness to compete for second chance opportunities. He also runs the floor well to create easy scoring opportunities in transition.

Defensive Footwork

His defensive footwork and stance are inconsistent. When engaged, Ament sits low in a wide stance. He moves his feet well and when he anticipates correctly, cuts off drives to force attackers to execute a counter move. Unfortunately, he lacks consistency. Too often, Ament is standing vertically on the perimeter and blown by without providing much deterrence. Similar to other offensive attributes, the ability is present but the consistency is problematic. He also struggles to close out in an athletic position which exposes him to drives or fouls. 

Deflections/Activity

He keeps his hands active although his rate of generating defensive deflections are low. The low rate may be attributed to his slow processing speed and reaction time. 

Intensity/Discipline

Defensive intensity is variable and disappointingly unreliable. The flashes of defensive intensity and effectiveness while applying pressure are so few and far between that I don't foresee a substantial impact defensively at the next level.

Screen Negotiation

He struggles to negotiate screens on and off the ball as he plays too vertically, struggles to move laterally, and lacks the anticipation to make adjustments to get around obstacles. He needs to vastly improve his ability to navigate screens or he will be a consistent target for opposing teams at the next level.

Off-ball Awareness

This is another area of improvement. He puts his defense in poor positions as he may be late to rotate or lose track of his responsibility. He has demonstrated the ability to rotate from the weakside to protect the rim but he needs to improve his consistency to make a positive impact on the defensive end.

Defensive Hustle

Ament is willing to boxout for rebounds but his effectiveness is lacking. Against larger or more physical opponents, he will have difficulty keeping his body between his opponent and the ball. Fortunately, his height and length aid his ability to contribute on the defensive glass as he high points the ball off of the rim. He will also hustle back in transition to contest attempts at the rim. Ament demonstrates effort. This is a positive attribute but needs to improve his awareness and reactions to enhance his defensive productivity.