For the first time in more than 80 years, UNC basketball is getting a player directly from N.C. State.
Matt Able, a freshman for the Wolfpack last season, committed to the Tar Heels and first-year coach Michael Malone on Tuesday, April 21, becoming the fourth N.C. State player to transfer to UNC since World War II.
Bernie Mack, Fred Swartzberg and Bones McKinney started their careers with the Wolfpack, but joined the Tar Heels after returning from military service. A 6-foot-6, 205-pound guard from Baltimore, Able averaged 8.8 points and 3.4 rebounds per game as a freshman in Raleigh. Across 34 games, Able made 41.6% of his shots, including 35.5% of his attempts from 3-point range.
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He had 14 games with double-digit points, including a career-high 19 points in N.C. State’s rout of UNC at Lenovo Center, knocking down five 3-pointers. Able made multiple 3-pointers in 13 games.
The No. 45 overall prospect in the 247Sports transfer portal player rankings, Able is the fifth-ranked shooting guard in the portal. EvanMiya has Able at No. 42 and On3 has Able at No. 32 overall, listed as the 10th-ranked shooting guard in the group. Able, 18, gives the Tar Heels a reliable perimeter scorer and likely slots in as the team’s starting shooting guard.
Primarily a catch-and-shoot guard, Able flashed an ability to get into the lane and finish off the glass. After playing on a roster that featured a ton of shooters, Able should be able to get more shots in Chapel Hill than he did in Raleigh. He also projects as a player capable of helping UNC boost its guard rebounding numbers and one that can create opportunities as an active defender.
Able had a steal percentage of 3.3 as a freshman, which put him 138th nationally per KenPom. He had 12 games with multiple steals, including five steals against Boise State at the Maui Invitational. Breaking down comparisons on KenPom.com, Able had a freshman season that was in line with what Virginia Tech’s Nickeil Alexander-Walker did in 2018 and what Stanford’s Anthony Brown accomplished in 2012.
Able looks like he’s positioned to be UNC’s starting shooting guard. Utah transfer Terrence Brown, Virginia Tech transfer Neoklis Avdalas and Able are likely to form the Tar Heels’ starting trio on the perimeter. Avdalas is the best passer in the group and Brown is elite at getting into the lane. With those traits, both players should be able to help generate catch-and-shoot opportunities for Able from beyond the arc. Jarin Stevenson and Maximo Adams give the Tar Heels some punch in the post, so if Henri Veesaar returns, UNC should have most of its roster intact for Malone's debut season.
Rodd Baxley covers North Carolina Tar Heels athletics for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding UNC? Send them to rbaxley@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Matt Able joins UNC basketball after leaving NC State