By R.L. Bynum
Matt Able looked comfortable and confident during an NBA Draft Combine scrimmage in Chicago on Wednesday.
The former N.C. State guard, who has committed to play next season at Carolina, scored 15 points and hit 3 of 5 3-point attempts in just over 19 minutes as his Carpenter team pulled away for a 95–83 victory over the Adams team at Wintrust Arena.
Afterward, in an ESPN2 interview, Able said the day started with his mindset and carried through the way his group played together.
“I think it was just a confidence, getting downhill, taking what’s open, but my teammates, man, they were there for me the whole time,” said Able, who started and played 19 minutes, 24 seconds, collecting three rebounds and one assist. “I feel like we brought the energy way more than the other team. I think we just came out with all the energy, and we outplayed them.”
Even in a setting where his teammates and lineups were all new, he was seen cheering on the sidelines when he was out of the game, supporting his team.
“We all want to win. That’s what it is. We all want to win,” Able said when asked about chemistry. “NBA wants winners. We want to win as much as possible.”
Able’s measurements listed him at 6–3.75 without shoes, 195 pounds, with a 6–8.25 wingspan and an 8–7 inch standing reach. ESPN projects him as the 39th overall selection in the second round, but some have him going lower than that.
When asked what he can bring to an NBA franchise, Able first pointed to his ability to play both ends of the floor and make the right choice on a possession.
“Versatility, offensively and defensively,” Able said. “A winner as well, playing, making the right plays throughout the game, I feel like it’s a big part of me. And winning basketball.”
Able entered the draft process while keeping the option of playing at Carolina open as he gathers feedback from NBA teams. Able has until May 27 to withdraw from the NBA draft process and maintain his college eligibility, meaning the next two weeks will shape whether he heads to Chapel Hill as planned or stays in the draft.
“It’s definitely a tough decision,” Able told ESPN’s Jeff Borzello. “I love UNC, I’m excited to get over there at some point … I’m still back and forth on it. I gotta think about it some more, get with my camp and figure it out.”
In the meantime, he is treating the week the way veterans often advise prospects to: show what you do well, show that you understand winning possessions, and show that you can mesh with players you just met.
“Honestly, I think everyone makes a different skill set, and I think as a team, we play well together,” Able said. “We bring the energy and we win.”
For one scrimmage, at least, he did all of that with a good game.
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The class for next season is listed.
| No./ Stars | Class | Player | Pos. | Hgt | Wgt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 star | Freshman | Maximo Adams | SF | 6–7 | 205 |
| 3 star | Freshman | Malloy Smith | CG | 6–5 | 190 |
| 5 star | Freshman | Sayon Keita | C | 7–0 | 215 |
| 4 star | Freshman | Kevin Thomas | W | 6–7 | 190 |
| Freshman | Alexandros Samodurov | C | 6–11 | 212 | |
| RS freshman | Cade Bennerman — W | C | 7–0 | 205 | |
| Sophomore | Neoklis Avdalas — X | G | 6–9 | 215 | |
| Sophomore | Isaiah Denis | G | 6–4 | 180 | |
| Sophomore | Matt Able — Y | G | 6–5 | 196 | |
| 1 | Senior | Terrence Brown — Z | G | 6–3 | 174 |
| 4 | Senior | Jaydon Young | G | 6–4 | 200 |
| 15 | Senior | Jarin Stevenson | 4 | 6–10 | 215 |
| Graduate | Angelo Brizzi — ZZ | 2 | 6–3 | 193 | |
| Walk-ons | |||||
| 25 | Junior | John Holbrook | 4 | 6–8 | 230 |
| 32 | Senior | Evan Smith | 2 | 6–1 | 195 |
W — Northwestern transfer. X — Virginia Tech transfer; Y — N.C. State transfer; Z — Utah transfer; ZZ — Buffalo transfer
Michael Malone’s coaching staff: Chuck Martin, Bryan Tibaldi, Sean May and Pat Sullivan; Deon Thompson will be a graduate assistant, and Brandon Robinson will reportedly have a support staff position.
Players who left for the transfer portal
| Player | Class next season | Pos. | Hgt | Wgt | Next school |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luka Bogavac | Senior | W | 6–6 | 215 | Oklahoma State |
| James Brown | Senior | C | 6–10 | 240 | Howard |
| Derek Dixon | Sophomore | G | 6–5 | 200 | Arizona |
| Kyan Evans | Senior | G | 6–2 | 175 | Minnesota |
| Zayden High | Junior | C | 6–10 | 230 | South Florida |
| Jonathan Powell | Junior | G | 6–6 | 190 | Pittsburgh |
| Ivan Matlekovic | Junior | C | 7–0 | 255 |
Schedule so far
(Other than the ACC/SEC Challenge, games without links revealed from reporting by Alex Rosinski or Rocco Miller)
(13 of 14 games)
Oct. 18 — exhibition game vs. Indiana at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis
Nov. 2 — vs. Western Carolina
Nov. 6 — vs. Wofford
Nov. 10 — vs. Wyoming
Nov. 13 — vs. Georgia
Nov. 20 — vs. Marshall
Nov. 27 — vs. West Virginia at the Dick Vitale Invitational at Charlotte’s Spectrum Center
Dec. 1 — vs. Arkansas in ACC/SEC Challenge
Dec. 6 — vs. Butler
Dec. 12 — at Georgetown
Dec. 15 (tentative date) — vs. N.C. State in a non-conference game in Greensboro
Dec. 19 — vs. Kentucky in CBS Sports Classic at Madison Square Garden, 2:30 p.m.
Dec. 21 — vs. The Citadel
Jan. 30 — vs. Illinois in Nashville, Tenn.
ACC games
Home and away: Duke, Louisville
Home only: California, Georgia Tech, Miami, N.C. State, SMU, Stanford, Virginia
Away only: Boston College, Florida State, Notre Dame, Pitt, Syracuse, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest
Photo via TV screenshot
