Brooklyn's Second Round Spotlight
The NBA's draft second day unfolded at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, where the league turned its attention to the next wave of talent, with picks ranging from 31 to 60.
Nate Ament, a Tennessee forward who spent the 2025‑26 season with the Vols, heard his name called by the Miami Heat with the 13th overall selection. Within minutes he was shipped to the Milwaukee Bucks, a move that underscores the rapid reshaping of rosters once the first round concludes.
Cameron Carr, a guard who starred for Tennessee from 2023 to 2025 before moving on to Baylor, was drafted by the New York Knicks at the 24th pick and immediately dealt to the Los Angeles Lakers. His journey illustrates how quickly second‑round prospects can find new homes.
ESPN’s pre‑draft rankings highlighted three former Volunteers among the top 70 players still available: Felix Okpara, Ja'Kobi Gillespie and Tobe Awaka. Each brings a different profile — Okpara’s defensive versatility, Gillespie’s playmaking flair and Awaka’s rebounding presence — that could influence the later stages of the draft.
Awaka, who began his college career at Tennessee before transferring to Arizona, adds another layer to the narrative of players who have leveraged multiple programs to sharpen their skills before reaching the NBA.
Looking Forward
For the teams that selected these former Vols, the transactions represent more than just roster moves; they signal strategic bets on players who have already proven they can adapt to new environments. As the draft wraps up, the focus will shift to summer league appearances and training camps, where the true impact of these selections will begin to surface.