Matt Able, a 6‑foot‑5 guard who spent his freshman year at North Carolina State, announced that he has officially withdrawn from the 2026 NBA Draft and will join the University of North Carolina for the 2026‑27 season.
During his lone season with the Wolfpack, Able averaged 8.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 0.9 assists, shooting at a modest clip but enough to earn a fourth‑place ranking among transfer‑portal shooting guards by 247Sports.
A Calculated Return for the Tar Heels
His decision comes on the heels of Michael Malone’s recent hiring as UNC’s head coach, a move that has reshaped the Tar Heels’ roster plans and convinced Able that a return to college could be more beneficial than entering the professional ranks immediately.
Malone, who previously coordinated UNC’s offense as an assistant, has been vocal about the need to add a reliable shooter and a big man, and Able’s return fills the former role while the coaching staff continues to hunt for a center to complete the lineup.
The move also underscores a broader trend in the transfer portal, where prospects are increasingly opting to stay in college for an extra year to refine their skills and improve draft projections, a strategy that could reshape the landscape of NBA talent acquisition.