Florida SS Brendan Lawson a semifinalist for Brooks Wallace Award
Florida's Brendan Lawson is a top-50 semifinalist for the Brooks Wallace Award, showcasing his impressive season stats.
Shooting guard Matt Able has transferred from NC State to North Carolina, enhancing the Tar Heels' backcourt. He averaged 8.8 points and 3.4 rebounds per game last season.
Shooting guard Matt Able committed to North Carolina on Tuesday, giving the Tar Heels a much-needed boost in a backcourt that was depleted this offseason.
Able was a strong contributor off the bench for NC State, averaging 8.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 0.9 assists in 21.8 minutes over 34 games. He shot 41.6% from the field (104-for-250), including 35.5% on 3-pointers (49-for-138), and 79.6% from the free-throw line (43-for-54).
In 18 ACC games, Able averaged 23.5 minutes, 9.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.9 turnovers, while shooting 42.1% from the floor (56-for-133), including 37.3% from 3-point range (28-for-75). He also shot 83.3% (25-for-30) from the free-throw line.
Here is a breakdown of what Able brings to the table.
Dec 3, 2025; Auburn, Alabama, USA; NC State Wolfpack guard Matt Able (3) drives against Auburn Tigers guard Keyshawn Hall (7) during the first half at Neville Arena. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-Imagn Images
While his perimeter shooting is still a work in progress as he is still raw, Able is an effective 3-point shooter, making better than 35% of his attempts over the course of the season, including in ACC play. He also shot them at a high volume, averaging more than four 3-point attempts per game. He could see a big jump in this department going into his sophomore year because it is there.
Able is an excellent pickpocket thanks to his length. He averaged more than 1.2 steals per game, which projects to 2.3 steals per 40 minutes, and he posted a 3.3 steal rate that ranked 138th nationally, according to KenPom.
Matt Able averaged 8.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 0.9 assists in 21.8 minutes over 34 games at NC State.
In 18 ACC games, he averaged 9.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 0.8 assists while shooting 42.1% from the field.
Matt Able is expected to provide a much-needed boost to UNC's backcourt, which was depleted this offseason.
He shot 41.6% from the field, 35.5% from three-point range, and 79.6% from the free-throw line during his time at NC State.
Florida's Brendan Lawson is a top-50 semifinalist for the Brooks Wallace Award, showcasing his impressive season stats.
José Soriano makes MLB history with six consecutive starts allowing one earned run or fewer.
MLB's 'Ohtani Rules' spark debate over fairness in baseball.
Former West Meck star Jmari Taylor is set for the NFL Draft!
Bournemouth's late draw with Leeds dims Champions League hopes but highlights young talent.
Discover the top 25 high schools in the U.S. for athletes based on a recent study.
See every story in Sports — including breaking news and analysis.
Mar 11, 2026; Charlotte, NC, USA; NC State Wolfpack guard Matt Able (3) brings the ball up the court in the second half at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
While he does have a strong steal rate, his defense can be suspect. According to EvanMiya, he posted a 21% mark in defensive court impact, which gives him a D-plus grade.
Some of that may be due to NC State’s overall struggles on defense, but it is still a concern that he was part of a poor defensive team and is joining a program trying to fix its perimeter issues from last season, one that was 18th in three-point defense in ACC play.
Offensively, he needs to prove that he can consistently make three-point shots and refine his ball-handling to enhance isolation abilities against high-level defenders.
Mar 12, 2026; Charlotte, NC, USA; NC State Wolfpack guard Matt Able (3) scores as Virginia Cavaliers forward Devin Tillis (11) defends in the first half at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Able is an excellent addition to UNC’s roster, bringing a much-needed shooting presence after the departures of 3-point specialists Luka Bogavac, Derek Dixon and Jonathan Powell. Unlike those three, Able has already shown he can play at a high level against power-conference competition with NC State last season.
He’s still learning the game and could benefit from Michael Malone's mentorship. Malone, known in the NBA as one of the league’s top player developers, can help improve Able’s skill set on offense and defense.
Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC basketball: Tar Heels add NC State wing Matt Able, what he brings