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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| Date | Time/ scores | Month/day | Opponent/event (current ranks) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October | Exhibitions | |||
| 9 | W, 88–70 | Friday | vs. No. 21 USC in Greensboro | |
| 18 | L, 76–58 | Sunday | vs. Indiana in Indianapolis | |
| 27 | 7:30 | Tuesday | vs. Charlotte | ACCN Extra |
| November | Regular season | |||
| 2 | 7 p.m. | Monday | vs. Western Carolina | ACCN |
| 6 | 7 p.m. | Friday | vs. Wofford | ACCN |
| 10 | 7 p.m. | Tuesday | vs. Wyoming | ACCN |
| 13 | 7 p.m. | Friday | vs. Georgia | ESPN2 |
| 20 | 9 p.m. | Friday | vs. Marshall | ACCN |
| 23 | 7 p.m. | Monday | vs. Monmouth | ACCN |
| 27 | 7 p.m. | Friday | Dick Vitale Invitational vs. West Virginia in Charlotte | ESPN |
| December | ||||
| 1 | 7:30 | Tuesday | ACC/SEC Challenge vs. No. 12 Arkansas | ESPN |
| 6 | 3 p.m. | Sunday | vs. Butler | ESPN2 |
| 12 | Noon | Saturday | at Georgetown | Peacock |
| 15 | 7 p.m. | Tuesday | Tobacco Road Classic vs. N.C. State in Greensboro | ESPN2 |
| 19 | 2:30 | Saturday | CBS Sports Classic vs. No. 23 Kentucky in New York | CBS |
| 21 | 8 p.m. | Monday | vs. The Citadel | The CW |
| 30 | 4 p.m. | Wednesday | vs. California | ACCN |
| January | ||||
| 2 | 4 p.m. | Saturday | at Boston College | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| 5 | 9 p.m. | Tuesday | at No. 11 Louisville | ESPN or ESPNU |
| 9 | Noon | Saturday | vs. N.C. State | ESPN2 |
| 13 | 7 p.m. | Wednesday | at Florida State | ESPN2 or ESPNU |
| 16 | 2:15 | Saturday | vs. Stanford | The CW |
| 19 | 9 p.m. | Tuesday | vs. No. 9 Virginia | ESPN |
| 23 | Noon | Saturday | at Syracuse | ESPN or 2 or U |
| 26 | 7 p.m. | Tuesday | vs. SMU | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| 30 | 6 or 6:30 | Saturday | Nashville Hoops Showdown vs. No. 3 Illinois in Nashville, Tenn. | ESPN |
| February | ||||
| 2 | 7 p.m. | Tuesday | at Notre Dame | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| 6 | 2:15 | Saturday | vs. Georgia Tech | The CW |
| 8 | 6 p.m. | Monday | vs. No. 11 Louisville | ESPN |
| 13 | 5:30 | Saturday | at No. 2 Duke | ABC |
| 20 | 7 p.m. | Saturday | at Wake Forest | ACCN |
| 22 | 7 p.m. | Monday | vs. No. 14 Miami | ESPN |
| 27 | 7 p.m. | Saturday | at Virginia Tech | ESPN |
| March | ||||
| 2 | 9 p.m. | Tuesday | at Pittsburgh | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| 6 | 6 or 6:30 | Saturday | vs. No. 2 Duke | ESPN |
| 9–13 | Tues.-Sat. | ACC tournament in Greensboro |
| No. | Class | Player | Pos. | Hgt | Wgt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | Freshman | Maxi Adams | F | 6–7 | 220 |
| 30 | Freshman | Malloy Smith | G | 6–5 | 180 |
| 21 | Freshman | Sayon Keita (SIGH-on KAY-tuh) | C | 7–0 | 205 |
| 5 | Freshman | Kevin Thomas | W | 6–6 | 205 |
| 35 | Sophomore | Cade Bennerman — U | C | 7–0 | 205 |
| 17 | Sophomore | Neo Avdalas — W (NEE-oh ahv-DOLL-lus) | G | 6–9 | 220 |
| 2 | Sophomore | Isaiah Denis | G | 6–4 | 185 |
| 3 | Sophomore | Matt Able — X | G | 6–5 | 200 |
| 22 | Junior | Alex Samodurov (SAH-muh-DUHR-off) | C | 6–11 | 225 |
| 1 | Senior | Terrence Brown — Y | G | 6–3 | 180 |
| 4 | Senior | Jaydon Young (JAY-din) | G | 6–4 | 200 |
| 15 | Senior | Jarin Stevenson (JARE-in) | F | 6–10 | 220 |
| 14 | Graduate | Angelo Brizzi — Z (BRIZZ-ee) | G | 6–3 | 200 |
| 54 | Graduate | Cameron Fens — V (Fenz) | C | 7–0 | 255 |
| Walk-ons | |||||
| 99 | Junior | John Holbrook — SA | F | 6–8 | 230 |
| 32 | Senior | Evan Smith | G | 6–1 | 200 |
V — South Dakota transfer; U — Northwestern transfer; W — Virginia Tech transfer; X — N.C. State transfer; Y — Utah transfer; Z — Buffalo transfer; SA — Holbrook is a designated student-athlete, so he doesn’t count against UNC’s 15-player limit.
Coach Michael Malone’s coaching staff — Associate head coach Chuck Martin; assistant coaches Bryan Tibaldi (tih-BALL-dee), Sean May, Jorge Sanz (HOR-hey sahnth), Pat Sullivan and Brandon Robinson; Director of player development Deon Thompson.
Former players at other schools
| Player | Class | 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 | Pacific |
Photo via gopack.com
