North Carolina’s offseason haul already looks like it could pay off in more ways than one, and Matt Able is now at the center of that conversation.
Able, who transferred from NC State, had been linked to the 2026 NBA Draft before choosing to return to college and honor his commitment to the Tar Heels. Now, he’s drawing even more attention for what could come next: a run that lands him in the first round of the 2027 NBA Draft.
That’s the kind of buzz North Carolina wanted when first-year head coach Mike Malone went to work in the transfer portal. Malone added a strong class, headlined by Able and Terrence Brown, giving the Tar Heels a boost that should matter right away.
ESPN’s Jeremy Woo recently listed Able among the college players who could force their way into first-round consideration next year. Woo wrote:
“With NBA scouts presently not all that impressed with the rising high school class, there is room for college veterans to push their way into the first round. Notable potential first-round returners to watch include Motiejus Krivas (Arizona), Alex Condon (Florida), Dame Sarr (Duke), Matt Able (North Carolina), Amari Allen (Alabama), Ivan Kharchenkov (Arizona), Juke Harris (Tennessee), Tyler Tanner (Vanderbilt), Patrick Ngongba II (Duke), Malachi Moreno (Kentucky), Trey McKenney (Michigan), Tounde Yessoufou (St. John's) and Milan Momcilovic (Kentucky).
“Still, the financial landscape makes it probable that some of these players end up staying in college even longer and don't end up in the 2027 draft at all,” Jeremy Woo of ESPN wrote.
For Able, the appeal goes beyond draft stock. He wants to win at North Carolina, and the draft picture gives him another layer of motivation. If he delivers the way many expect, the Tar Heels could end up with one of the best teams in the country.
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Michael Malones First UNC Roster Faces One Huge March Test
Michael Malone is building his first North Carolina roster with a very different look, and the early shape of it says a lot about how he wants to play. The Tar Heels are bringing back only a small core from last season, with Isaiah Denis, Jarin Stevenson and Jaydon Young the only familiar holdovers, while the rest of the rotation is being pieced together through additions at both guard and forward. The makeover is obvious enough that depth, versatility and how quickly the newcomers settle in figure to matter just as much as talent on paper.
The backcourt has been overhauled with Terrence Brown, Matt Able, Kevin Thomas and Neoklis Avdalas among the new names expected to see real minutes, while Sayon Keita and Alexandros Samodurov give UNC more options inside. Even with that kind of influx, there is a sense that the frontcourt could have looked even stronger with Henri Veesaar in the mix, which is the kind of offseason what-if that lingers around a roster this new. For Malone, the challenge is not just finding enough pieces, but getting them to fit quickly enough to survive the kind of March test that has a way of exposing teams still learning each other. [Read more 🡒]
Coby White Just Landed A Massive NBA Opportunity
Coby White is cashing in on the progress he has made since leaving Chicago, with a new three-year, $74 million agreement set to keep him in place for the next stretch of his career. After being traded to Charlotte during the 2025-26 season, the former Tar Heel has settled into a role that looks increasingly important for the franchise as it reshapes its backcourt.
The timing makes this more than just a payday for White. Charlotte has already moved on from LaMelo Ball in a trade with Minnesota, and that opens the door for White to step into a far bigger responsibility going into 2026-27. For a player who has kept improving since arriving, it is a chance to move from useful guard to the one expected to steer the offense. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Suddenly Has A Real Shot At Elite 2027 Big Man
North Carolinas late push into the Darius Wabbington sweepstakes is the kind of development that can change the tone of a recruiting race in a hurry. The Class of 2027 big man has already climbed high enough on boards to draw national attention, and the Tar Heels were among the programs that earned a place in his trimmed list, alongside Arizona, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville and Texas.
For UNC, the intrigue is in how quickly the opportunity arrived after the June 18 offer and how much ground still has to be made up. Wabbington already has three official visits on the books, but the Tar Heels have not yet lined one up, leaving Hubert Davis and his staff with work still to do if they want to turn an unexpectedly real opening into something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]