What NC State transfer Matt Able brings to the table for UNC

Story by

Grant Chachere, Tar Heels Wire

Wed, Apr 22, 2026 ·

2 min read

Shooting guard Matt Able committed to North Carolina on Tuesday, giving the Tar Heels a much-needed boost in a backcourt that was depleted this offseason.

Able was a strong contributor off the bench for NC State, averaging 8.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 0.9 assists in 21.8 minutes over 34 games. He shot 41.6% from the field (104-for-250), including 35.5% on 3-pointers (49-for-138), and 79.6% from the free-throw line (43-for-54).

In 18 ACC games, Able averaged 23.5 minutes, 9.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.9 turnovers, while shooting 42.1% from the floor (56-for-133), including 37.3% from 3-point range (28-for-75). He also shot 83.3% (25-for-30) from the free-throw line.

Here is a breakdown of what Able brings to the table.

What to be excited about

Dec 3, 2025; Auburn, Alabama, USA; NC State Wolfpack guard Matt Able (3) drives against Auburn Tigers guard Keyshawn Hall (7) during the first half at Neville Arena. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-Imagn Images

While his perimeter shooting is still a work in progress as he is still raw, Able is an effective 3-point shooter, making better than 35% of his attempts over the course of the season, including in ACC play. He also shot them at a high volume, averaging more than four 3-point attempts per game. He could see a big jump in this department going into his sophomore year because it is there.

Able is an excellent pickpocket thanks to his length. He averaged more than 1.2 steals per game, which projects to 2.3 steals per 40 minutes, and he posted a 3.3 steal rate that ranked 138th nationally, according to KenPom.

What to be concerned about

Mar 11, 2026; Charlotte, NC, USA; NC State Wolfpack guard Matt Able (3) brings the ball up the court in the second half at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

While he does have a strong steal rate, his defense can be suspect. According to EvanMiya, he posted a 21% mark in defensive court impact, which gives him a D-plus grade.

Some of that may be due to NC State’s overall struggles on defense, but it is still a concern that he was part of a poor defensive team and is joining a program trying to fix its perimeter issues from last season, one that was 18th in three-point defense in ACC play.

Offensively, he needs to prove that he can consistently make three-point shots and refine his ball-handling to enhance isolation abilities against high-level defenders.

How he fits at UNC

Mar 12, 2026; Charlotte, NC, USA; NC State Wolfpack guard Matt Able (3) scores as Virginia Cavaliers forward Devin Tillis (11) defends in the first half at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Able is an excellent addition to UNC’s roster, bringing a much-needed shooting presence after the departures of 3-point specialists Luka Bogavac, Derek Dixon and Jonathan Powell. Unlike those three, Able has already shown he can play at a high level against power-conference competition with NC State last season.

He’s still learning the game and could benefit from Michael Malone's mentorship. Malone, known in the NBA as one of the league’s top player developers, can help improve Able’s skill set on offense and defense.

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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC basketball: Tar Heels add NC State wing Matt Able, what he brings