There have been constant twists and turns in Chapel Hill during Michael Malone’s first month as the North Carolina Tar Heels’ head coach.
It finally feels like the waves have subsided and everything is falling into place. On Wednesday, Malone’s first acquisition since taking over, Neoklis Avdalas, arrived at the Dean E. Smith Center, cementing his move to North Carolina. That being said, earning a player’s commitment does not guarantee anything, as evidenced by Florida Atlantic transfer Maxim Logue withdrawing from North Carolina days after announcing his decision to join the Tar Heels.
So, when Matt Able was invited to the 2026 NBA Draft combine and announced his intention to go through the process, worrisome speculation filled the streets in Chapel Hill. However, on Thursday, the North Carolina State transfer officially signed with the Tar Heels.
Why This Makes Sense
The 6-foot-5, 205-pound guard’s long-term goal is to play in the NBA. By accepting the invitation to the scouting combine, Able unintentionally sparked a ruckus among Tar Heel fans, who were concerned that the program would be losing another transfer portal acquisition.
Thursday’s news validated my thoughts this past weekend when I explained that North Carolina should not be concerned about this situation. Yes, Able could have theoretically entered the upcoming draft, but his decision to explore the opportunity was solely to speak with scouts about the areas of his game he needs to improve to reach his goals.
This draft class is loaded with several superstar talents, as the top 15 picks could all be last year’s incoming freshman class. Able to forego another year in college basketball to be a mid-late second-round pick would be a major risk, given that he would not be guaranteed to even be selected…