NC State Transfer Matt Able Signs With UNC

Another member of North Carolina’s 2026-27 roster has made his commitment official, as NC State transfer Matt Able has now officially signed his agreement to become a Tar Heel next season, Inside Carolina and On3’s Pete Nakos confirmed on Thursday.

Able’s signing comes just over two weeks after his decision to commit to North Carolina on April 21. The Baltimore, Md. native is rated as the No. 31 overall player in the transfer portal by On3, as well as the No. 9 shooting guard.

“There is a lot to like with his game,” said Inside Carolina analyst Sean Moran following Able’s commitment. “I think the one thing to say off the games I watched, he did feel like a Carolina type player, just in terms of how he approaches the game. His focus on winning, playing team basketball, and he provides versatility. Carolina is hoping for that big sophomore jump.”

>>> Expert Analysis: UNC Commitment Matt Able Has Breakout Potential <<<

The 6-foot-6 wing entered the transfer portal while also testing the NBA Draft process on April 6 following a freshman campaign in Raleigh where he averaged 8.8 points and 3.4 rebounds in 21.8 minutes per game coming off the bench. In NC State’s win over UNC on Feb. 17, Able poured in a season-high 19 points, knocking down 5-of-7 attempts from beyond the arc while also grabbing six rebounds.

On the season, Able shot 41.6 percent from the field, 35.5 percent from three-point range, and finished in double figures 14 times. 

New UNC coach Michael Malone envisions an increased and integral role for Able in Chapel Hill.

“They want him to be a shooting guard, a secondary ball handler, someone who can guard the ‘1’ through the ‘3’, and someone who should be on the floor quite a bit,” Able’s father, Doug, told Inside Carolina.

>>> Inside the Commitment: Matt Able’s Path to Chapel Hill <<<

Able received an invitation to the upcoming NBA Draft Combine in Chicago (May 10-17) and is projected as a second-round pick in ESPN’s latest mock draft. Unless his draft stock drastically improves, he is expected to enroll at UNC this summer to begin his Tar Heel career. The NCAA’s early entry withdrawal deadline for the NBA Draft is May 27.

Coming out of Sagemont Prep (Fla.), Able was ranked as the No. 26 overall prospect in the 2025 recruiting class according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, signing with the Wolfpack over offers from Alabama, Baylor, Stanford, Tennessee and Texas.

Able will join a North Carolina backcourt next season that is projected to include returners Jaydon Young and Isaiah Denis, along with Utah transfer Terrence Brown, Virginia Tech transfer Neoklis Avdalas, and incoming freshman Malloy Smith. As with Able, Avdalas and Brown have both also informed the NCAA that they are officially signed with UNC. The school has yet to announce any of this offseason’s portal acquisitions.