A Strategic Move for the Tar Heels
Matt Able announced on Instagram on May 26 that he is withdrawing from the 2026 NBA Draft, preserving his college eligibility beyond the 11:59 p.m. ET deadline on May 27. The decision follows a strong showing at the NBA Draft Combine, where he averaged 16 points over two scrimmages and shot 50 percent from three‑point range.
During his freshman year at N.C. State, Able contributed 8.8 points and 3.4 rebounds per game in 21.8 minutes per appearance, shooting 41.6 percent overall and 35.5 percent from beyond the arc. He recorded 14 games with double‑digit scoring and 13 contests with multiple three‑pointers, highlighted by a season‑high 19 points and five threes in a win over UNC in Raleigh.
Able’s recruitment journey culminated in a commitment to UNC on April 21, making him the first N.C. State player to transfer to the Tar Heels since World War II. He will join a backcourt that already features returners Jaydon Young and Isaiah Denis, as well as portal additions Terrence Brown Jr. from Utah and Neoklis Avdalas from Virginia Tech, while incoming freshman Malloy Smith rounds out Coach Michael Malone’s first group of guards.
The guard cited Coach Malone’s NBA experience and philosophy as decisive factors, noting the success Malone has had with players such as Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. By choosing UNC, Able hopes to develop under a coach who has already guided multiple NBA talents to the next level.