It was a topic of conversation for a long time earlier this offseason for UNC and Michael Malone. There was fear that Matt Able was going to punt on continuing his college career to stay in the NBA Draft instead. Thankfully, Able got some great advice, and will suit up for the Tar Heels next season in hopes of becoming a first-round pick.
Henri Veesaar was incredibly vulnerable after NBA Draft fall no one saw coming
Things are starting to point in that direction. In a new NBA Mock Draft for The Athletic, Sam Vecenie has Able taken off the board at No. 26 overall, one spot ahead of Duke stud Dame Sarr. If this does happen, it would be a major relief for the NC State transfer, and yet again further proof that playing for Michael Malone was smart on his end:
Here's my best guess at a 2027 NBA Mock Draft.
— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) June 25, 2026
Wrote ~45 or so names here. To say that this thing is unsettled right now is an understatement.
Think you could tell me at least 20 of the top-30 are not in next year's class, and I wouldn't be stunned.https://t.co/GzqNPDm1fm
Matt Able has what it takes to be a first-round talent for UNC and Michael Malone
"Able considered staying in the 2026 draft but transferred to North Carolina to play for Michael Malone in his first year as a college coach," Vecenie wrote. "A big-time shooter and scorer, Able can provide the scoring punch the Tar Heels need both as a shooter and as a driver attacking closeouts. He also improved a lot on defense this season, showcasing the ability to make high-level plays with his hands and disrupt the action."
A 5-star prospect out of high school, Able showed flashes of brilliance with NC State last season, averaging a little under nine points per game. What really had his draft stock climbing this spring was his fantastic showing at the NBA Combine, particular during 5-on-5 work. He was rising a bit on draft boards, but he was fully expected to fall to the second round.
He made the move to Chapel Hill, and he's fully focused on putting on a show for Malone and his staff next campaign. Had he stayed in the draft, he would have risked experiencing exactly what Henri Veesaar went through. Veesaar was hoping to be a first-rounder and turned down an estimated $4-5 million to make the jump to the pros.
He suffered a massive slide, not hearing his name called until pick No. 52. The Atlanta Hawks were the ones to finally give him the call he was waiting for. With Able, though, he's going to have a great opportunity to keep raising his draft stock if all goes to plan next season. It wouldn't be a surprise to see him in the lottery discussion too if he plays to his potential.
Even if he does go at No. 26, he'll see his NBA dreams come true, and always have bragging rights in saying he's a first-rounder. Only time will tell if that happens or not, but the evidence keeps mounting that Able 100 percent made the right decision in delaying the draft for at least one more season. In turn, that decision will also prove to be gold for Malone moving forward.
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