Good news keeps coming for head coach Michael Malone’s UNC as 6-foot-6 freshman guard Matt Able has decided to withdraw from the 2026 NBA draft and wants to play for the North Carolina Tar Heels next season. He was part of NC State last season, averaging 9.2 points per game in ACC play.
May 27 is the deadline for many college basketball players to decide whether they want to be in the draft or return to college. Able was among several of them who wanted to test the NBA draft waters before making the expected decision.
This is a massive boost for Malone & Co., especially considering that Henri Veesaar has decided not to return.
Able, in his only season with the Wolfpack, averaged 8.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 0.9 assists in 21.7 minutes per game. While there was a good chance an NBA team would have selected him in the draft, he believed going to Chapel Hill and Malone was the best decision. He hopes to make the case for first-round selection in the 2027 NBA draft.
Able’s return has also relieved UNC from searching for a shooter. Now, all they need is a center to complete their roster.
Where Does UNC’s Michael Malone Rank in the ACC?
After back-to-back first-round exits in the NCAA Tournament, UNC fired Hubert Davis and hired former Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone just around the start of the transfer portal. This is Malone’s first stint in college basketball as head coach.
College Basketball Report recently ranked coaches conference-wise. In ACC, they ranked Malone at No. 6. The list was topped by the following in order:
- Duke’s Jon Scheyer
- Virginia’s Ryan Odom
- Clemson’s Brad Bronwell
- Miami’s Jai Lucas
- Louisville’s Pat Kelsey
This might be thought of as a low ranking for an NBA championship-winning head coach, but college sports are different than the professional basketball league. Apart from coaching skills, recruiting and NIL negotiations are also part of the job.
However, this also allows Malone to make his college debut as head coach with fewer expectations. Who knows, maybe he can reclaim UNC’s lost glory in the near future.
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