Aidan Jensen, Tar Heels Wire
Updated Wed, May 20, 2026 at 1:30 PM UTC
ESPN NBA draft analyst says this prospect should return to UNC
Michael Malone’s first UNC basketball roster is shaping up to be a strong one, and the program is going to keep adding commitments.
One of North Carolina’s most anticipated roster additions is versatile guard Matt Able, who transferred from NC State. Standing 6 feet, 6 inches, Able can be utilized as a wing or, in a smaller lineup, power forward.
There’s a chance Able never plays for the Tar Heels, though. He produced a strong NBA combine performance and could stay in the draft. In his post-combine analysis, ESPN NBA draft analyst Jeremy Woo tabbed Able as one of his three stock risers, while also noting a year at UNC will help his future stock.
“Able arrived in Chicago hoping to boost his case for the late first round, coming off an up-and-down freshman year at NC State that dampened his preseason buzz,” Woo writes. “He did well to bolster his case, playing well again Thursday (17 points with four 3s) and showcasing a solid feel for scoring. Though Able is still not ready to help a competitive NBA team and he measured on the smaller side for a wing (6-3¾ barefoot and 196 pounds), his plus-4½ wingspan and huge hands are helpful and he has yet to turn 20 years old. Returning to college and changing scenery from NC State to UNC could help him a year from now, though he has put himself in consideration as a developmental pick for a team that can afford to draft him now and take a longer view.”
Able played in all 34 of the Wolfpack’s 2025-26 games. He averaged 8.8 points and 3.4 rebounds per contest, while shooting 35.5% from deep and 79.6% on free throws. Able is projected as a first-time starter in Chapel Hill.
Professional basketball is the goal for most young basketball players. If Able truly wants to go the NBA route, which it sounds like he does, playing for Malone’s Tar Heels is his best choice.
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC basketball: Matt Able should return to college after NBA combine.