Tennessee basketball added three more names over the last two days to the list of players drafted into the NBA.
The 2026 NBA Draft took place June 23-24, with three members of Rick Barnes’ 2025-26 Elite Eight team making the jump to professional basketball.
Barnes has now helped 13 Vols reach the NBA since 2019, with this 2026 class being the second time Barnes has had a trio of players drafted into the NBA, and the first time this happened being in 2019 with Grant Williams, Admiral Schofield and Jordan Bone.
Let’s take a look at the three draft selections from Tuesday and Wednesday night.
Nate Ament: First round, pick 13 — Milwaukee Bucks
The true freshman from Manassas, Virginia, is the highest Vol to be drafted since 2002, when Marcus Haslip was also selected 13th overall.
Ament stands as the ninth top-15 pick and is Tennessee’s sixth one-and-done to be drafted into the NBA, the fifth under Barnes.
While the selection went to the Miami Heat, Ament will be joining the Bucks as one of the pieces in the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade.
“I really wouldn’t say it’s much extra pressure,” Ament said. “Obviously, we’re stepping in. Luckily, I’m not going at it alone. I have got another top-10 draft pick, Brayden Burries. He’s a tremendous player, and I’m excited to get to learn with him.”
Ament has the frame and potential to make an impact on a young Bucks team in search of a new identity after dealing away their former champion, Antetokounmpo.
“Yeah, I’m just super excited,” Ament said. “Again, as I said, I’m super grateful for the opportunity. Being able to make my family proud and share that moment with them means the world to me. So super excited and ready to get to work.”
Ja’Kobi Gillespie: Second round, pick 42 — San Antonio Spurs
The second player to hear his name called was the Greenville, Tennessee, native Ja’Kobi Gillespie, who was taken by the league runner-up San Antonio Spurs.
“I had a workout with them; it went really well,” Gillespie said. “They told me they really liked me and were considering drafting me, so for them to take a chance on me is just a great feeling; that’s where I wanted to be, honestly.”
Gillespie had an illustrious career, during which he spent time at three different schools, including Belmont, Maryland, and Tennessee. Out of his four seasons, Gillespie saved his best for last, averaging 18.4 points per game on 41% shooting.
He also grew into his role as a playmaker, averaging a career high of 5.4 assists his senior year.
Felix Okpara: Second round, pick 46 — Washington Wizards
Center Felix Oxpara was the third and final Vol to have their name selected from the 2026 NBA Draft pool. He also became the 13th Vol to be selected from Barnes’ tenure.
Shortly after being drafted, Okpara was later dealt to the Washington Wizards through a trade.
Okpara is the second international player to ever be drafted out of Tennessee. Okpara is a native of Lagos, Nigeria.
Okpara spent his final two collegiate seasons with the Vols after transferring in from Ohio State, where he displayed his impressive rim protection. He finished his Vols career averaging 7.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks.
“I’m just really excited, a dream come true for sure,” Okpara said. “Seeing your name get called, all the hard work you put in, I feel like it’s the next step in my journey, and I’m excited to go through with it.”
