The Tar Heels are bringing in a familiar face out of the transfer portal.

Matt Able, who spent his freshman season at NC State, announced his commitment to head coach Michael Malone and UNC out of the portal Tuesday. As a rising sophomore, Able will have three years of eligibility remaining. Inside Carolina first reported Able’s commitment Tuesday afternoon.

A former four-star recruit from Baltimore ranked among the top 30 players in the class of 2025, Able was one of the Wolfpack’s top reserve players during the 2025-26 season. Though he did not start a game, the 6-foot-6 wing still averaged 21.8 minutes per game off the bench. He played well when his number was called, averaging 8.8 points per game and shooting 35.5 percent on three-pointers. Ironically, his best game came against the Tar Heels, when Able scored 19 points and grabbed six rebounds in 31 minutes during the Wolfpack’s 82-58 win.

Able’s commitment to UNC continues a surprising trend of player movement between NC State and Carolina in recent seasons. Former Tar Heel wing Dontrez Styles ended his college career with the Wolfpack, though he took a stop in Georgetown in between his stints in Chapel Hill and Raleigh. More recently, Ven-Allen Lubin departed Chapel Hill in 2025 and signed with NC State.

Able is the third transfer to commit to UNC out of the portal and the second to do so Tuesday, following Utah’s Terrence Brown. Former Virginia Tech Hokie Neoklis Avdalas has also committed to UNC.

 

Featured image via NC State Athletics

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