Acting as a professional North Carolina local blogger for Vibe NC, write an engaging article based on the following content: The Charlotte Hornets hold two first‑round picks in the 2026 NBA Draft, and one of them could realistically be used on Nate Ament—at least according to Kevin O’Connor’s latest mock. The timing couldn’t be better for Charlotte, as Ament officially declared for the draft on Thursday after one season at Tennessee.Ament entered this season widely viewed as a potential top‑five pick, but a slow start with the Volunteers and the overall strength of the class pushed his stock down. He even considered returning for another year to rebuild his value for 2027.That slide could become Charlotte’s opportunity to grab a first‑round steal, even if they decide to grab another wing in the offseason.Charlotte can’t afford to pass on Nate Ament if he slips out of the lotteryThere’s a reason Ament was projected so highly early in the process. At 6’10”, he moves fluidly, flashes real shooting upside, and has the physical tools to become a switchable defender at the next level.But there’s also a reason he’s fallen. In 35 games at Tennessee, he shot just 39.9% from the field. When a player struggles with efficiency in college, it naturally raises questions about how that translates to the NBA.Those concerns are valid, but Ament brings one elite skill that’s hard to ignore: he lives at the free‑throw line. Per Sports‑Reference, he posted a staggering 57.8% free‑throw attempt rate, meaning he drew a trip to the charity stripe on more than half of his shot attempts.
