John Calipari is making a late push for uncommitted five-star forward Nate Ament following the prospect’s recent visit to Kentucky. Ament, the highest-rated uncommitted player in the 2025 class, is still considering Duke, Kentucky, and Arkansas as his top choices.
With the 2024-25 college basketball season nearing its conclusion, three five-star recruits remain undecided—Brayden Burries, Koa Peat, and Ament, the No. 4 overall prospect. Many believe Ament’s decision will come down to Duke and Kentucky, but Calipari is working to make Arkansas a serious contender.
Despite facing on-court struggles in his first year at Arkansas, Calipari continues to thrive in recruiting. The Razorbacks currently hold the nation’s fifth-ranked 2025 class, headlined by five-stars Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas, along with four-star Isaiah Sealy. However, Calipari isn’t done yet.
On Monday night, Calipari attended one of Ament’s high school games, where the 6-foot-9 forward delivered a dominant performance, scoring 32 points, grabbing 11 rebounds, and recording four blocks. His presence courtside highlighted his commitment to securing Ament for Arkansas.
Meanwhile, Calipari is preparing for a crucial SEC matchup against No. 1 Auburn after a recent loss to No. 8 Texas A&M. With Arkansas sitting at 15-10 (4-8 in SEC play), the Razorbacks are on the bubble for an NCAA tournament spot, according to ESPN Bracketologist Joe Lunardi.
Despite this, Calipari is prioritizing Ament, whose addition would be a major boost for his second year at Arkansas. However, the Razorbacks still appear to be trailing Duke and Kentucky in the race for Ament.
Calipari has built his reputation on recruiting elite talent, and landing Ament would be a significant win for Arkansas. This is his first major recruiting battle with the Razorbacks, and it will be interesting to see if he can still compete with college basketball’s powerhouses while donning Razorback red.
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