Matt Able’s second college season is shaping up to be the kind of year that can change a draft conversation in a hurry.
After a freshman year at NC State that showed flashes but not the kind of production that matched the hype, Able is now headed to North Carolina, where expectations will be far louder. He averaged 8.8 points per game and shot 35.5 percent from three-point range in 2025-26 with the Wolfpack, numbers that were solid without being eye-catching. But the 6-foot-6 guard still flashed the traits that made him such a touted prospect in the first place.
The selling point with Able has always been the shot. He’s a dangerous shooter from deep, and there’s a belief that his scoring package will keep expanding as he gets older and keeps sharpening his game.
Able tested the waters after his freshman season by entering the 2026 NBA Draft while also committing to play for the Tar Heels under new head coach Michael Malone. He also went through the NBA Draft Combine and impressed enough that his decision point lingered for a while. In the end, he pulled out of the draft and stayed with UNC, a move that could pay off if his game takes the leap plenty of people expect.
That possibility is already showing up in draft projections. CBS Sports’ Adam Finkelstein projected Able as the No. 13 overall pick in next year’s NBA Draft, with the Golden State Warriors taking him. That would be a major jump from where he stood in this year’s cycle, when he was viewed as more of a second-round type.
“Able didn't quite live up to the preseason hype at NC State, but had a great showing in the 2026 pre-draft process, which will have scouts closely monitoring his progress this year across the Triangle in Chapel Hill,” he said.
Now the spotlight shifts to what Able does in Chapel Hill. He’s expected to be one of North Carolina’s better players next season, and if he becomes a primary option for Malone in his first year on the job, the Tar Heels could have a real ACC contender on their hands. Just as important for Able, the combination of a blue-blood stage and Malone’s NBA background gives him a clear runway to push himself into the lottery conversation.
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Among the players expected to matter most in 2026 are Abou-Jaoude, Jordan Shipp, Cost and June, each carrying a different piece of the load as UNC leans into a more physical run game under offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino. The defense needs impact plays, the passing game needs steady production and the backfield needs a reliable engine, but the real question is whether those pieces can come together quickly enough to give Belichick the kind of second-year answer this program is looking for. [Read more 🡒]