By R.L. Bynum
Matt Able put himself in front of pro scouts again on Tuesday, a week away from the deadline to decide whether to remain in the NBA draft process or continue his college career.
The Carolina commitment and former N.C. State star has been navigating that timeline while building on the momentum he generated during the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. That continued Tuesday in El Segundo, Calif., where he performed in front of scouts at the Life Sports Agency Pro Day.
The 6–5, 196-pound Able said it comes down to what he hears and what he believes about where he would be selected and by which team.
“Either way, I have two great options, I would be able to develop regardless,” Able said in an interview with freelance writer Aaron Heisen at the event. “But it’s really just weighing the options and figuring out what I want to do.”
ESPN’s latest mock draft has Able going early in the second round to the Brooklyn Nets at No. 33.
Able, who committed to Carolina on April 21, had two strong scrimmages during the Combine, scoring 17 points in 22 minutes after collecting 15 points in 19 minutes in the other.
Able described the evaluation process as extending beyond shot-making and measurements to the everyday details of how a team imagines a player fitting into its environment.
“You’re trying to show them who you are as a person off the court, you’re trying to show me what you can do, and also the energy you bring, like what type of locker room guy are you,” Able said. “Are you getting your teammates excited, or who you are as a person as well, and I think both groups did a great job at that.”
When he was asked what NBA teams would get if they selected him, Able went straight to the traits he believes are his strengths, especially in a league where role clarity can determine whether a young player earns minutes or spends months learning on the fly.
“I think they’re getting a great teammate and a winner, honestly,” Able said. “Being a great teammate, uplifting your teammates, good day, bad day, doesn’t matter. And I think also, winning, I feel like I made winning plays, I’m a winning player, and I think I was able to showcase the flashes there, and I think everyone did a great job of doing it.”
Able has positioned that identity, teammate first and winning-oriented, as the through-line of his recent run through the draft cycle. He described the last stretch, including the Combine and the pro day, as an opportunity to show teams how he tries to affect games even when the ball is not in his hands.
“Just making the right plays, not forcing it; I think that’s a big thing,” Able said. “And also, just being a great teammate on the bench, whether you might not be in the game all the time, showing energy in there for your teammates, helping wherever you can on the court.”
Able did not present himself as someone expecting an instant starring role in the NBA and sounded comfortable with the reality that the early part of an NBA career often involves narrower responsibilities.
“Obviously, I’m not delusional,” he said. “I know I’m probably not going to start the first season, or ever. So just being a great teammate, coming off the bench, hitting an open three.”
Staying in the draft means betting that the feedback is strong enough and specific enough to justify beginning his career in the league now. Withdrawing by the deadline means heading to Chapel Hill with eligibility intact and continuing his growth.
Able described that college experience as meaningful and formative, not merely a stopover on the way to the next level.
“Yeah, it was a great experience,” Able said. “I had a lot of seniors, I learned a lot about basketball, I learned just about the business of basketball as well. That was a really big thing I learned about, and I think overall, as I grew, I grew a lot. I don’t regret anything. I think N.C. State was a great experience for me, and I learned a lot from it.”
At the same time, Able pointed to the Combine and pro day as opportunities to show teams aspects of his game he believes were not fully displayed during the season. In his view, this process has been about expanding the picture that evaluators have of him.
“I think I had a bigger opportunity to show what I can do,” Able said. “I was able to show stuff that I didn’t show at N.C. State.”
Able also outlined what he sees as the next steps in his game, regardless of which path he chooses.
“Yes, I’m definitely trying to improve upon playmaking,” Able said. “I feel like I’m a really good playmaker, getting even better at that. And also, getting [in] work for putting on more weight. I think that’s a big thing.”
Decision time is approaching.
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Roster assuming all players with eligibility other than Caleb Wilson, Henri Veesaar and the seven players who entered the transfer portal return, which would put UNC two under the 15-player limit. 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 |
| 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 | 6–6 | 205 | |
| Senior | Terrence Brown — Z | G | 6–3 | 174 | |
| 4 | Senior | Jaydon Young | G | 6–4 | 200 |
| 15 | Senior | Jarin Stevenson | 4 | 6–10 | 215 |
| 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
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 |
Key offseason dates
Thursday through May 28 — Kevin Thomas at USA Basketball U18 national team tryouts in Colorado Springs
May 27 (11:59 p.m.) — NCAA early-entry withdrawal deadline
June 13 — Deadline for international players to withdraw from NBA draft and maintain college eligibility
June 23–24 — NBA draft at Barclays Center in Brooklyn
Nonconference schedule so far
(Other than the ACC/SEC Challenge, games without links revealed from reporting by Alex Rosinski or Rocco Miller)
(11 of 14 games)
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 or 2 — vs. SEC team in ACC/SEC Challenge (announced last year on June 12)
Dec. 12 — at Georgetown
Dec. 19 — vs. Kentucky in CBS Sports Classic at Madison Square Garden
Dec. 21 — vs. The Citadel
November or December — vs. Butler
Photo via gopack.com
