Kentucky has its eyes on Nate Ament, the No. 4-ranked forward in the Class of 2025 for some time now. The five-star Highland High School star remains one of the biggest uncommitted names, and his all-around game makes him a top-tier prospect. “Ament is one of the most versatile players in this class, combining his exceptional movement skills for his size with genuine feel, skill, and motor on both ends,” Pro Insight Basketball analyst Zach Welch said. But while Mark Pope is working hard to bring him, the Wildcats aren’t leading this race.

Interestingly, Pope’s pursuit of Ament didn’t start at Kentucky. Even before taking the Wildcats’ head coaching job last April, he and assistant coach Cody Fueger were already after him at BYU. Ament once acknowledged their early recruitment efforts, which raises an interesting question—can that history work in Kentucky’s favor now?

Maybe, but the numbers tell a different story. According to FanStake — a platform that lets fans invest in athletes’ career — bidding data, ACC powerhouse Louisville has built a massive lead in the bidding war, leaving Kentucky playing catch-up.

While writing, Louisville is setting the pace with a whopping $36,515 bid, while Kentucky trails far behind at $21,220. The gap between these two is substantial, but it’s even wider when you look at the rest of the field. Duke, sitting in third place, has only managed a $5,315 bid, showing just how dominant Louisville’s position is.

Ament is among the only three Top-50 prospect of 2025 class that remains uncommitted. He only recently wrapped up his visits to Duke and Kentucky, sharing his jersey photoshoots, and let’s just say, the pull is strong from both sides. Just earlier this month, the Boozer twins hopped on a mission to draw him to the Blue Devils as he posed in their jersey. “Yk this is the move twin,” Cayden had nudged. Now you can’t expect the Wildcats to stay shushed.

“Yo goofy, let’s commit,” Kerr Kariisa persuaded after his Kentucky visit. But even with all the attempts and Louisville’s advantage, Ament is keeping his options open. His recruitment list still includes 11 schools, but the 2025 McDonald’s All-American is giving extra consideration to Arkansas, Duke, Kentucky, Louisville, Notre Dame, and Tennessee. However, insiders indicate that just three schools are truly in the lead.

Who’s really leading the race for Nate Ament?

It’s a three-horse race for Nate Ament, with Louisville, Duke, and Kentucky pulling ahead of the pack. According to On3 senior recruiting analyst Jamie Shaw, these powerhouse programs are the frontrunners for the 6-foot-9 small forward.

Interestingly, Duke has been in the mix the longest. The Blue Devils identified Ament as a priority early on, and he’s already spent time around the program. He played for the U18 USA Basketball team alongside Duke signee Shelton Henderson and trained with current freshmen Darren Harris and Pat Ngongba. Shaw even mentioned that some in Ament’s camp are pushing for Duke, thanks to the program’s strong reputation for developing NBA talent.

Meanwhile, Kentucky is also making a serious push. Wildcats coach Mark Pope recently attended Ament’s senior night at Highland High School, signaling how badly they want him. Kentucky initially aimed to land both Ament and Caleb Wilson, but with Wilson committing to North Carolina, Ament is now their top target.

But Louisville isn’t backing down either. Ament has strong ties to Cardinals signee Mikel Brown, having played with him both for the U18 USA team and during their AAU circuit. His connection with Louisville assistant coach Thomas Carr, who previously coached him through the Team Loaded AAU program, also gives the Cardinals an edge.

With 38 offers on the table, the ball is in Ament’s court, and fans are eager to see where he’ll land.