NC State’s head coach, Will Wade, has a direct, no-frills approach that is already resonating with young stars like Matt Able.
The Florida standout, who chose NC State over visits to Alabama, Tennessee, Baylor, and Stanford, shared his reasons during USA Basketball’s U19 camp. He was one of 31 players selected nationwide for the prestigious training camp in Colorado Springs.
Will Wade’s Straightforward Pitch Sealed NC State Commitment for Matt Able
During the USA U19 training camp, Able explained that he committed to NC State because of how genuine and straightforward head coach Will Wade was during the recruitment process.
“I chose NC State because of the way Coach Wade came off and just presented himself,” Able said. “He told me exactly what it was going to be, straight up. A lot of times you’ll have coaches tell you one thing, and there’ll be a lot of expectations, but Wade just told me exactly what it was going to be. He had a vision for me and the plan, and I’m sticking to it and I’m committed to it.”
The young guard also discussed the clear plan and the specific steps he needs to take to earn early playing time.
“Definitely got to put some muscle on. As a freshman…it’s easy to put on some weight when you first get there. But just developing my game. I feel like I can really shoot at a high level, so just showing that and becoming a better playmaker as well.”
Able’s comments reflect the young players’ growing trust in Wade’s direct and honest style. That approach has helped the NC State coach build strong relationships with recruits and stirred tension in the college basketball world. Earlier this month, Wade drew attention for a pointed remark directed at an in-state rival.
Will Wade’s Comments on Ven-Allen Lubin Sparked Backlash
Able praised NC State head coach Wade for his honesty and clear development plan. This comes just days after Wade’s comments on Ven-Allen Lubin sparked backlash.
On June 1, former North Carolina forward Ven-Allen Lubin announced his transfer to NC State. The move surprised many, and Wade’s response quickly became a talking point on social media.
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“The other school was too dumb to play him,” Wade said in a video posted to X. “When [Lubin] plays 28-plus minutes, he’s done that in 23 games, he averages 15 [points] and eight [rebounds]. I don’t know why the hell they didn’t play him, but we’re gonna play him, so he’s gonna average 15 and eight.”
“The other school was too dumb to play him.”
– Will Wade apparently taking shots at UNC, after NC State landed UNC transfer Ven Allen Lubin 😲😲
pic.twitter.com/niwe1J7k9w— Aaron Torres (@Aaron_Torres) June 15, 2025
The quote was widely seen as a shot at UNC head coach Hubert Davis and sparked frustration among Tar Heel fans. While NC State supporters appreciated the vote of confidence in Lubin, others saw it as unnecessarily blunt.
For Wade, though, the message was clear. He believes in his players and has no hesitation in making that known.
