Tuesday turned out to be a landmark day in Chapel Hill. Michael Malone and the North Carolina Tar Heels secured not one but two transfer portal commitments within hours of each other, and the second one is guaranteed to sting NC State fans in a particularly sharp way.
Former NC State guard Matt Able committed to UNC on Tuesday, becoming the third transfer portal addition of Malone’s tenure and the second backcourt piece confirmed in a single day — following the earlier commitment of Utah guard Terrence Brown Jr. Able had been trending heavily toward the Tar Heels for several days, with On3 projecting UNC at 100% to land him before he made it official.
What Able brings to the Tar Heels
At 6-foot-6 and over 200 pounds, Able is a physically imposing guard who offers a skill set that coaches at every level covet. During his lone season with the Wolfpack, he averaged 8.8 points and 3.4 rebounds per game while shooting 41.6% from the field and 35.5% from three-point range. He also connected on 80% of his free throw attempts — a detail that speaks to his overall shooting touch and reliability at the line.
He is ranked No. 44 overall in the transfer portal according to 247Sports, making him a genuinely significant get for a UNC program that lost meaningful guard depth from last season’s roster. The departures of Luka Bogavac and Derek Dixon left real holes in the backcourt, and Able’s shooting ability addresses that need directly.
The expectation is that his numbers will improve considerably in Chapel Hill. As a sophomore with an expanded role in a more structured offensive system and greater shot volume, both his three-point percentage and overall scoring output have room to grow. Beyond shooting, he is also capable of finishing around the rim and holds his own defensively — a versatile profile that fits well within what Malone is building.
How the backcourt is taking shape
With Brown expected to operate as the starting point guard, Able slides naturally into the shooting guard role, giving Malone a complementary pairing that addresses two distinct needs with two portal additions secured on the same morning. It is the kind of efficient, purposeful portal work that programs chasing immediate competitiveness need to execute — and UNC did exactly that on Tuesday.
The Tar Heels had also been pursuing Wake Forest transfer Juke Harris for the shooting guard spot, but with that trail appearing to cool, Malone pivoted and landed Able — a decision that may ultimately prove to be the right one given the fit.
What still needs to be resolved
Despite the momentum, the roster is far from finished. All eyes remain on center Henri Veesaar, whose impending decision on whether to enter the NBA Draft carries enormous implications for how UNC shapes the rest of its offseason. Waiting until mid-May for a final answer from Veesaar could complicate the Tar Heels’ ability to address other needs in time, and Malone’s staff will need to manage that uncertainty carefully.
There is also the situation surrounding guard Seth Trimble, who entered the transfer portal after four seasons but has indicated he may return if the NCAA passes a rule granting a fifth year of eligibility to players who have exhausted four seasons. Whether the additions of Brown and Able change Trimble’s thinking — or whether the eligibility rule passes at all — remains to be seen.
For now, though, the Tar Heels have had a genuinely strong Tuesday. Two portal commitments, a clearer backcourt picture and, as a bonus, a move that will have Wolfpack fans grinding their teeth for the foreseeable future.
Source: Tar Heels Wire / FanSided