NC State Freshman Matt Able Declares for NBA Draft While Keeping Portal Door Wide Open

Matt Able is going all in on the NBA dream, at least for now. The NC State freshman told ESPN on Monday that he's entering the draft while simultaneously putting his name in the transfer portal, keeping every option alive as he figures out his next move.

Here's the wrinkle: his coach bolted. Will Wade, who recruited Able and coached him this past season, left for LSU last month. That shook things up, but Able isn't panicking. He's got his eyes on the league.

Testing the Waters at 6-Foot-6

Able came to NC State as a legit prospect. The 6-foot-6 wing was a former top-25 recruit who skyrocketed up the rankings during the summer between his junior and senior years of high school, ultimately landing inside the top 25 players in the class of 2025 by the time he graduated. Before this past season, NBA scouts were already speculating about him as a potential one-and-done first-rounder.

His freshman year had flashes of that potential mixed with growing pains. He scored in double figures in four of his first five games, including 15 points against Seton Hall at the Maui Invitational. Things got choppy during ACC play, but then came a two-game stretch against Miami and North Carolina where he totaled 36 points and eight 3-pointers. That stretch gave real hope. He also scored in double digits in his final three ACC games of the season.

When you add it all up, Able averaged 8.8 points and 3.4 rebounds while shooting 35.5% from 3-point range. Wade wasn't shy about his talent either. "He's good enough to play in the NBA," Wade told ESPN at October's ACC media day. "There's no doubt about that."

The Portal Card Is Still in Play

Even though Able's main focus is the draft process, he's not ruling out a return to college. New NC State coach Justin Gainey, who came over from Tennessee, already had a conversation with Able. They have history from when Gainey recruited him in high school.

"The coaching change definitely played a part," Able said. "Having a coaching change is a big thing, it affects a lot of things, but I feel like my main focus is testing the draft waters, and then after that, I'll see what I'm going to do. I want to focus 100% of my attention on making the NBA. That's my dream. That's the No. 1 priority. If I don't like how things are looking with the draft, I'll consider my college options."

Translation: he's going to work out for NBA teams, see if the interest is real, and then decide. A return to Raleigh under Gainey isn't off the table. "It's completely open for me," Able said. For a kid who's only played one college game, that's exactly the leverage you want.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.