Matt Able arrives at North Carolina with a very different kind of pressure than the one he carried at NC State. He’s no longer just a promising freshman finding his way. In Chapel Hill, the Tar Heels are asking him to be a centerpiece.
That’s the jump in front of one of the most intriguing players on Michael Malone’s first UNC roster. Able transferred after one season in Raleigh, and his move is believed to make him the first Wolfpack basketball player to go directly to North Carolina in the modern era.
But the rivalry angle is only the headline. The real story is whether his game is ready for a bigger stage.
As a freshman, the Baltimore native appeared in all 34 games and never started, but he still gave NC State useful production: 8.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 0.9 assists in 21.8 minutes per game. He shot 41.6% from the field, 35.5% from 3-point range and 79.6% at the line, while knocking down 49 threes and taking more than four per game.
Those numbers hint at why North Carolina wanted him. The Tar Heels did not bring in Able to stay in a supporting lane.
The expectation is that he starts, logs at least 30 minutes a night and becomes one of the team’s main scoring threats. Terrence Brown Jr. may open the season as the favorite to lead the offense, but Able has a real shot to push for that spot.
His calling card is the perimeter jumper. Able gets it off quickly, prepares his shot well and can score from different spots on the floor.
That should play especially well next to creators like Brown and Neoklis Avdalas. He also made 43% of his transition 3-point chances last season, and he can hurt defenses both as a catch-and-shoot option and when he puts the ball on the deck.
There’s more to his offense than standing behind the arc. Able runs the floor hard, finishes with either hand and attacks closeouts with straight-line drives.
His shot fakes and pass fakes create real problems because defenders have to respect the jumper. Once they bite or slide out of position, he has enough strength, creativity and feel to get to the rim.
The bigger challenge is mental as much as it is physical. At NC State, Able sometimes disappeared or passed on chances.
That won’t fly at UNC. He has to be aggressive, call for the ball and understand that Carolina will need him to play with a scorer’s mentality.
He’s not just a young guard learning the ropes anymore; he’s supposed to be one of the Tar Heels’ most important pieces.
There’s work to do on defense, too. Able’s active hands helped him generate a strong steal rate, but he needs better lateral quickness against smaller guards and sharper awareness when he’s away from the ball. If that comes along, his length and instincts could make him a dependable two-way player.
His on-ball game still has room to grow as well. He finished his freshman year with the same number of assists and turnovers, though his turnover rate was higher than his assist rate.
Even so, there were flashes of playmaking in transition and in the half court. Malone doesn’t need him to become a full-time point guard, but more comfort in the midrange, a floater and a better passing package would make him tougher to handle.
The range of outcomes is wide, but the floor is useful and the ceiling is loud. A reasonable projection has Able scoring more than 13 points per game, shooting in the high 30s from 3 and better than 80% at the free-throw line. If everything clicks, he could lead Carolina in made 3-pointers, enter the all-conference conversation and maybe finish as the team’s top scorer.
During the Locked On Tar Heels preview, one bold prediction had Able tying North Carolina’s single-game record of eight made 3-pointers. An even bolder one had him ending the season as UNC’s leading scorer.
That’s what makes him such a fascinating piece for Malone’s first team. Able brings immediate production, but he also represents a bigger payoff if his sophomore leap arrives the way North Carolina hopes.
If it does, the Tar Heels won’t just have landed a transfer. They’ll have found a star.
In Other News...
UNC Defense Faces New Concern Right Before The Season Opener
With the season opener closing in, North Carolina has added an unexpected layer of uncertainty on defense. Bill Belichick said his son, Steve Belichick, the Tar Heels defensive coordinator, is currently on medical leave and away from training camp, leaving a key part of the staff unavailable at a sensitive time in the preseason.
The program did not offer any details about the medical situation, only that it hopes to have him back as soon as possible. In the meantime, the defense will be handled collectively by the coaching staff, a temporary arrangement that puts even more attention on how UNC sorts through the final stretch before the opener. [Read more 🡒]
North Carolina Suddenly Faces A Defensive Camp Concern Bill Belichick Can't Ignore
North Carolinas defensive plans hit an unexpected snag in the second week of training camp when coordinator Stephen Belichick went on medical leave, creating another complication for a staff that already has plenty to sort through after a disappointing previous season and recent changes around the program. Head coach Bill Belichick confirmed the situation in a press conference and said the defensive coaches will handle the workload together while Stephen is away.
The timing adds to the unease because the Tar Heels are trying to steady themselves before a season opener in Dublin, and the defense was already going to be under a microscope. Bill Belichick did not offer a timeline for Stephen Belichicks return, leaving the staff to navigate camp without one of its key voices and without any clear answer on whether he will be back for the opener against TCU. [Read more 🡒]
UNCs Quarterback Battle Could Decide How Fast Belichicks Offense Clicks
North Carolinas quarterback competition has become one of the defining early stories of Bill Belichicks first Tar Heels team, and it makes sense why. With Bobby Petrino helping guide the offense, the staff is trying to sort through a group that offers very different traits: Billy Edwards Jr. brings experience, Miles ONeill has the biggest arm in the room, Au'Tori Newkirk is the only returning player, and freshman Travis Burgess adds another layer of upside to the mix.
The process matters because the starter will shape how quickly the offense can settle in once Week 1 arrives. Belichick and Petrino have both stressed a careful evaluation, which suggests they are not treating this as a quick decision or a simple depth-chart exercise. For a team trying to get a new system moving smoothly, the question at quarterback is more than a roster detail, it is the hinge point for how fast everything else can click. [Read more 🡒]