Tennessee basketball’s Nate Ament and Ja’Kobi Gillespie were each named Preseason Second-Team All-SEC by the media, the conference announced Monday. UT was one of two schools, along with Florida, to place multiple players on the first- or second-team lists.

Additionally, Ament was one of eight players to earn a vote for Preseason SEC Player of the Year. Kentucky’s Otega Oweh, Florida’s Alex Condon, Ole Miss’ Malik Dia, Florida’s Boogie Fland, Florida’s Thomas Haugh, Mississippi State’s Josh Hubbard and Auburn’s Tahaad Pettiford also received votes. Oweh was picked to win the award.

Ament announced his commitment to the Vols over Duke, Louisville, Kentucky and Arkansas earlier this year on Easter Sunday. The five-star prospect was ranked by 247Sports as the No. 4 overall player in the Class of 2025, the No. 2 power forward and the top player from the state of Virginia. Ament is the highest-ranked recruit to ever sign with Tennessee.

The 6-foot-9 forward out of the Highland School in Warrenton, Va. was named the 2024-25 Virginia MaxPreps Player of the Year after leading Warrenton to a 42-7 record and the VISAA Division I state championship. He averaged 19.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. Ament scored 24 points and grabbed 18 rebounds in a 56-51 overtime win against Bishop O’Connell (Arlington) in the state title game.

Gillespie transferred to Tennessee over the offseason after one season at Maryland in which he was named to the All-Big Ten Third Team. Gillespie led the Terps in three-point makes (87), assists (174), and steals (69), while ranking second in points per game (14.7). His 87 three’s are the fourth most in a single season in Maryland history and also led the Big Ten.

The 6-foot-1, 188-pound point guard is from nearby Greeneville, Tenn. He signed with Belmont out of Greeneville High School after being named the 2022 Tennessee 3A Mr. Basketball. The East Tennessee native became the first player from northeast Tennessee to be named Mr. Basketball in the award’s 37-year history.

At Belmont, Gillespie averaged 17.2 points, 4.2 assists, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.2 steals as a sophomore in 2023-24. He was named to the Missouri Valley All-Conference Second Team, the MVC All-Defensive Team and the conference’s Most-Improved Team.

Preseason First Team All-SECAlex Condon – FloridaJosh Hubbard – Mississippi StateOtega Oweh – KentuckyTahaad Pettiford – AuburnLabaron Philon Jr. – AlabamaPreseason Second Team All-SECNate Ament – TennesseeBoogie Fland – FloridaJa’Kobi Gillespie – TennesseeThomas Haugh – FloridaMark Mitchell – MissouriThird Team All-SECMalik Dia – Ole MissAden Holloway – AlabamaKarter Knox – ArkansasJaland Lowe – KentuckyD.J. Wagner – Arkansas

Preseason SEC Player of the Year: Otega Oweh – Kentucky