North Carolina coach Michael Malone hit the ground running in Chapel Hill after being appointed as Hubert Davis’ successor.
Since his hiring, nine players have entered the transfer portal, with two opting to withdraw their names, forcing Malone to pursue players in the portal to build his Tar Heels roster for next season. And on Tuesday, Malone made a significant addition.
Michael Malone Secures Unlikely Transfer Portal Coup
North Carolina secured the unlikely signing of NC State guard Matt Able, whose move from Raleigh to Chapel Hill only strengthens the intense rivalry between these two ACC teams.
College basketball analyst Jeff Goodman described the value that Able will provide to Malone’s team next season.
“The Tar Heels get their much-needed perimeter shooter,” Goodman wrote.
Able was a four-star prospect, the No. 6 shooting guard and No. 28 overall player in the class of 2025, according to 247Sports. He committed to the Miami Hurricanes in Aug. 2024 before decommitting in Feb. 2025 and choosing the Wolfpack in April over offers from the Texas Longhorns and Michigan Wolverines.
The talented guard averaged 8.8 points on 41.6% shooting from the floor and 35.5% shooting from beyond the arc, along with 3.4 rebounds and 0.9 assists in 34 games played last season.
On3 reporter Noah Fleischman revealed the stunning statistic that Able is only the fourth player to transfer from NC State to North Carolina, and the first to do so since World War II. He joins a select group of players, including Bones McKinney, Fred Swatzberg, and Bernie Mock to make this move.
In addition to Able, Malone bolstered the Tar Heels’ backcourt on Tuesday by signing former Utah Utes guard Terrence Brown. He was the No. 8 combo guard and No. 38 overall transfer in the transfer portal, according to 247Sports.
Brown averaged 19.9 points on 45.3% shooting from the floor and 32.7% shooting from beyond the arc, plus 2.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists for the Utes last season. He chose the Tar Heels over the USC Trojans, Kentucky Wildcats, and Kansas Jayhawks. The veteran guard will fill the huge hole left by former North Carolina standout Seth Trimble.
Malone has several matters to attend to, including the upsetting news of No. 3 combo guard and No. 6 overall player in the class of 2026 Dylan Mingo decommitting from North Carolina a week ago after previously committing to the Tar Heels under Davis.
In addition, center Henri Veesaar has not yet announced whether he will return to North Carolina next season or depart for the NBA Draft, leaving Malone’s roster in limbo. Veesaar averaged 17.0 points on 60.8% shooting from the floor and 42.6% shooting from beyond the arc as well as 8.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists for the Tar Heels last season.
