It's okay to admit it if you were a little worried about whether or not Michael Malone and UNC were going to get some rough news from stud guard Matt Able. Despite the majority of mock drafts having him in the second round, the buzz continued to grow that maybe, just maybe, he was going to go pro and bail on his Chapel Hill plans.
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Luckily, that did not happen, as Able officially announced that he's going to suit up for Carolina next campaign. We can't overstate how big of a get this is for the Tar Heels, as the former 5-star recruit will be ready to make a splash moving forward. But, can he end up being UNC's best player in 2026-27? That's what CBS' Isaac Trotter has in mind, which would be unreal for Malone and his staff:
Good decision by Matt Able to return to college basketball and try to boost his stock at UNC. Strongly believe he can be the Tar Heels’ best player in 2026-27. https://t.co/tVhMJezstE
— Isaac Trotter (@Isaac__Trotter) May 26, 2026
Matt Able pulling out of the NBA Draft will prove to be invaluable for North Carolina
The potential Able has truly is through the roof. There's a reason NC State fans are a bit down in the dumps. While he wasn't a superstar by any means during his true freshman campaign, the expectation is that Able is going to take a massive leap forward during his sophomore season - in 2025-26 for the Wolfpack, the 6-6, 205-pounder averaged 8.8 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.
No one can forget about what he was able to get done at the NBA Combine too, as his performances during scrimmages were quite head-turning. If he wasn't a baby-faced freshman, then maybe he'd be getting first-round love, but the fact of the matter here is that Able still has some developing to do, which Malone will make a top priority from the moment he makes his way to campus.
The starting lineup, for now, will be Able, Terrence Brown, Neoklis Avdalas and 5-star center Sayon Keita. However, as we've mentioned before, countless eyes continue to be on Alexandros Samodurov. Despite the uncertainty there, the pieces have come into place for North Carolina to make some noise next season.
There are of course going to be high expectations for Malone, as people are going to be quick to criticize him and North Carolina for the hire. However, Malone has been crushing it out on the recruiting trail, no question reminding targets of his NBA Finals ring. That sure worked on Able, who will likely be making the jump to the league next year.
Despite him getting a second-round grade this offseason, he could be in the first-round conversation if all goes to plan for him next season in the ACC. Might he even become an eventual lottery pick? That's something to not be ignored, as he's oozing with potential. And with him giving Malone the news he was hoping for, people can't wait for him to make his debut in Carolina blue.
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