North Carolina’s new coaching era continues to take shape with another important roster addition now officially secured for the 2026–27 season. Multiple sources confirmed Thursday that the Tar Heels have finalized the paperwork on a former ACC contributor, giving first-year head coach Michael Malone another versatile piece as he begins to reshape the program.
The signing strengthens a North Carolina roster that is being built with flexibility and long-term upside in mind. The incoming wing brings proven experience at the high-major level, along with the kind of two-way skill set that translates well in modern college basketball. Standing 6-foot-6 and capable of impacting the game on both ends of the floor, he fits the profile of a player who can grow into a much larger role within Malone’s system.
While his collegiate future is now formally tied to North Carolina, his immediate path remains slightly open-ended. The newcomer is still involved in the 2026 NBA Draft process after earning an invitation to the NBA Draft Combine, which begins next week in Chicago. Players in his situation are allowed to test the professional waters and still retain college eligibility, with the option to withdraw from the draft process as late as May 2027.
During his freshman season at NC State, he showed flashes of why he was so highly regarded coming out of high school. Used primarily as a spark off the bench, he appeared in all 34 games and averaged 8.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in just under 22 minutes per contest. His efficiency stood out, as he shot 41.6 percent from the field and 35.5 percent from beyond the arc.
One of his most memorable performances came on Feb. 17 in Raleigh, when he delivered a breakout night against North Carolina. In that rivalry matchup, he poured in 19 points and knocked down five three-pointers, playing a key role in a statement Wolfpack victory that turned heads across the conference.
A product of Sagemont Prep in Florida, the Baltimore native entered college as a well-regarded recruit and still has three years of eligibility remaining. At North Carolina, he is expected to compete for a meaningful role as a multipurpose perimeter option, with responsibilities that could include secondary ball-handling and guarding multiple positions. Those traits align closely with what Malone and his staff value as they retool the roster.
Unless his draft stock takes a significant leap during the pre-draft evaluation process, the expectation is that he will arrive in Chapel Hill this summer ready to begin the next chapter of his career. That chapter will now feature Matt Able, the former NC State wing whose official signing quietly gives North Carolina another intriguing building block for the seasons ahead.