Matt Able has another reason to play for UNC and Michael Malone next season

Michael Malone struck the jackpot in his first transfer class and the one player that many Tar Heel fans are excited to see next year in Carolina blue is guard Matt Able. The N.C. State transfer is coming into Chapel Hill after a promising freshman campaign across town as one of the primary options off the bench.

Able, however, won't be coming off the bench in Chapel Hill. He's going to be getting over 25 minutes a game and playing in all situations. The 6-foot-6 guard has all the tools you want in a big player on the perimeter and his shot is already good with room to improve. But the question is if Able will make those improvements with the Tar Heels or on an NBA roster.

Jamie Shaw, the Senior National Recruiting Analyst for On3/Rivals, believes that Able will impress many coaches and scouts during this week of the NBA Draft Combine. 

"Matt Able is somebody that can just rise. He was a late bloomer coming out of high school. He can dribble, shoot and pass to an advantage. I think he's somebody that could really test well when it comes to these meetings and everything. Once you see him play — the shooting touch, the handle and all that. He's somebody that could rise during this process."

Rivals/On3 analyst believes Matt Able could be the surprise of the NBA Draft combine

Able was invited to the combine and is rightfully going to see it through to test where he is in comparison to the other top prospects. He is generally projected as a second-round pick, going somewhere between the 35th and 50th pick. That's probably too big of a risk for the 18-year-old to stay in the draft — many second rounders don't have the security of guaranteed contracts — but a great combine could make Able a fringe first-rounder and if that happens, a decision will have to be made. 

However, Shaw sees an even better outcome for Able if he goes to North Carolina and becomes the player that he is expected to be.

"If he does come back, he could really shoot up draft boards. Possibly even top-10 or higher upside," Shaw added.

The prospect of being an All-ACC/All-American player in 2027, leading the Tar Heels to a deep tournament run and becoming the first lottery pick of the Malone era is something that hopefully should appeal to Able. It's also a big feather in Malone's cap for a first season and should pay off significantly in the following years with fans and players.

Right now, the key is being patient and letting Able do what he needs to do to get the answers he wants. If Able comes back, as expected, he should have even more confidence and drive to be one of the best players in the country. If he shows out during combine week and stays in the draft, it's going to be a major disappointment for Malone and the Tar Heels, but it also shows that the coach has already identified the right talent and will continue to do so. 

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