Matt Able Is Transferring To North Carolina Following Playing Freshman Season For NC State Following Removing His Name From 2026 NBA Draft
27 miles is the proximity between University Of North Carolina, NC State University !
Matt Able who is a guard is transferring to North Carolina following playing freshman season for NC State.
Matt Able’s decision to transfer to North Carolina comes following playing freshman season 2025-2026 season for NC State following removing his name from 2026 NBA Draft on Tuesday May 26, 2026.
With that in mind,
With that mind,
This question comes to mind, what other players have suited up for both North Carolina, NC State?
There have been a couple!
Bernard Bernie Mock who played for NC State before World War II Fred Schwarzberg who played for NC State prior to World War II later played for North Carolina. Bones McKenna who played for NC State prior to World War II and later played for North Carolina. As for more of the recent players who have played for both North Carolina, NC State those include Ven- Allen Lubin who transferred to NC State from North Carolina as well as Dontrez Styles.
Matt Able had this to say about transferring to North Carolina following removing his name from 2026 NBA Draft on Tuesday May 26, 2026.
I’ve decided to withdraw my name from the 2026 NBA Draft and continue my development at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,” Able said in a statement provided to Andscape. “Grateful for the feedback I received throughout this process and excited to be part of the Tar Heel family.
According to Shelby Swanson’s News & Observer article https://www.heraldsun.com/sports/article315892641.html
In Matt Able’s one season at NC State Matt Able played for Will Wade who is now the Head Coach of LSU! In his one season at NC State Matt Able averaged 8.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 0.9 assists while shooting 41.6 %!
According to https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/5196877/matt-able
For North Carolina Matt Able is going to be playing for Head Coach Michael Malone!
Michael Malone is former Denver Head Coach former Sacramento Head Coach former NBA Head Coach who is North Carolina’s new Head Coach as of Monday April 6, 2026.
Michael Malone coached pair of seasons in Sacramento ten seasons in Denver!
As Head Coach of Sacramento Michael Malone had a record 106-39!
As Head Coach of Denver Michael Malone had a record of 798- 471 that included winning Denver’s only NBA Championship in 2023
https://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/malonmi99c.html
According article by ESPNhttps://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/48413287/unc-hire-ex-nba-coach-michael-malone-hc-sources-say
Michael Malone was then fired by Denver in April of 2025 because of a toxic power struggle with General Manager Calvin Booth declining team performance and concerns that he had lost the locker room despite winning championship in 2023.
Before being Head Coach in NBA Michael Malone was a point guard at Loyola (Maryland from 1989 - 1993 before beginning his coaching career where he was an Assistant Coach at Oakland University under Greg Kampe before an Assistant Coach Providence College with Pete Gillen.
Michael Malone has a connection to North Carolina!
His connection?
His daughter Bridget Malone who is a sophomore on the volleyball team!
According to Shelby Swanson’s News & Observer article https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/unc/article315316941.html
At the time of Michael Malone being hired as North Carolina’s new Head Coach former Duke Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski now retired Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski went the Pat McAfee show ! Duke had an NFL Champion hired in Bill Belichick and Duke beat Carolina in football this year. There is time for adjustment coming from the pros to college Michael is a terrific coach and terrific guy. There’s a learning curve Whatever the reasoning is the infrastructure of athletic department is to become more of a pro organization and Mike Malone knows how to do that.
According to https://x.com/PatMcAfeeShow/status/2041214843152146705
Michael Malone is replacing Hubert Davis because North Carolina was a 6th in the South Region in the NCAA Tournament North Carolina had a 56-37 on VCU was 11 seed in the second half on Thursday March 19, 2026 in second half before going on to lose 82-78 to Thursday in the 2026 NCAA Tournament in overtime.
North Carolina’s 56-37 lead on VCU evaporated at Bon Secours Wellness Arena that is home to the Greenville Swamp Rabbits of ECHL affiliate of NHL’s Los Angeles Kings.
As North Carolina’s lead evaporated as they went on to lose as VCU who came back from a 19 point deficit to end North Carolina’s season to advance to second round three players scored in double figures Lazer DJoKovic who is junior who is a forward was 5-11 on field goals , 2-5 on 3 pointers , 3-4 on free throws to go along with 5 rebounds , 2 assists, 15 points Nyk Lewis who is a freshman who is a guard was 5-8 on field goals, 0-2 on 3 pointers , 6-7 on free throws to go along with 7 rebounds 1 assists , 16 points. Terrence Hill Jr. who is a sophomore who is a guard was 13-23 on field goals, 7-10 on 3 pointers.
As a team as VCU came back VCU was 30-66 on field goals was 11-26 on 3 pointers was 11-16 on free throws!
In North Carolina’s 82-78 overtime loss to VCU Jarin Stevenson who is a junior who is a forward was 4-9 on field goals, 1-3 on 3 pointers , 2-3 on free throws to go along 5 rebounds, 11 points. Henri Veesaar who is a junior who is a center was 9-18 on field goals , 3-6 on 3 pointers , 5-9 on free throws to go along with 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 26 points. Derek Dixon who is a freshman who is a guard was 4-12 on field goals was 3-7 on 3 pointers to go along with 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 11 points Seth Trimble who’s is senior who is a guard who’s North Carolina career came to conclusion was 5-11 on field goals , 1-4 on 3 pointers , 4-7 on free throws to go along 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 15 points.
According to ESPN App
According to ESPN App
With North Carolina’s 82-78 loss in overtime where North Carolina’s lead evaporated it led me to ask this question North Carolina going to be searching for new Head Coach to replace Hubert Davis?
That turns out to be the case because Hubert Davis was fired on Tuesday March 24, 2026 at the age of 55.
At the time of Hubert Davis being fired Director Of Athletics Bubba Cunningham shared his thoughts on Hubert Davis by saying We appreciate all that Hubert has done for Carolina as a player, assistant coach, head coach he has helped make special memories we will never forget,” Cunningham in a statement. “This was not an easy decision because of Hubert’s tremendous character and all he has given to the program, but we must move forward in a way that allows our team to compete more consistently at an elite level.”
Though Director Of Athletics Bubba Cunningham wasn’t the only to share thoughts following the firing of Head Coach Hubert Davis as Hubert Davis did as well by saying “My desire was to continue to coach here,”This opportunity has truly been such a blessing. I thank Jesus literally every day for giving me the opportunity, relationships and experiences with the kids and my staff.”I am very proud of what we were able to accomplish together,”
My goal is to coach again in the very near future.”