Nate Ament was forecast to be an immediate star, and he is living up to the billing as No. 20 Tennessee prepares to face North Florida on Wednesday night at Knoxville, Tenn.The five-star recruit averaged 20.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in his first two college games, including 23 points and eight boards in Saturday’s 95-56 rout of visiting Northern Kentucky.The output against the Norse was the most for a Tennessee freshman since Julian Phillips scored 25 against Southern California on Nov. 24, 2022, in the Bahamas.Ament quickly has impressed veteran Tennessee coach Rick Barnes with his court vision and determination.”With Nate, I thought he was assertive,” Barnes said. “I thought not just what he was doing driving the ball; his passes over the top of the zone were big. Thought he was really starting to see the court better.”The 6-foot-10 Ament factors in as a one-and-done college player, and he chose the Volunteers (2-0) over programs such as Duke, Kentucky, Arkansas and Louisville.He has room to grow physically and said Barnes has urged him to be more willing to mix it up with opposing players.”During practice, Coach Barnes harps on me going straight up a lot, not fading away, going into contact,” Ament said. “So that’s just a product of him trying to help me learn the game.”Ament wasn’t the only productive player in the victory over Northern Kentucky. Ja’Kobi Gillespie scored 20 points and J.P. Estrella registered career bests of 17 points and 11 rebounds.Estrella missed most of the last season due to left foot surgery and received a medical redshirt. Barnes is eager to see how he fares as a sophomore this season, feeling regular big efforts from Estrella would raise the squad’s potential.