Key keywords: Matt Able, UNC Tar Heels, 2024 NBA Draft withdrawal, college basketball, ACC men's basketball, five-star basketball recruit, NCAA eligibility, 2025 NBA Draft prospect Rivals first confirmed on Wednesday that 18-year-old five-star combo guard Matt Able has officially withdrawn his name from the 2024 NBA Draft pool and signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the University of North Carolina (UNC) Tar Heels men’s basketball program for the 2024-2025 NCAA season. The 6-foot-4, 185-pound prospect, ranked No. 12 overall in the 2024 high school recruiting class, had initially declared for the draft in April while retaining his NCAA eligibility to keep his college options open. Able participated in last month’s NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, where he competed against other top draft prospects and met with front office staff from 17 NBA teams. Feedback from multiple teams indicated that while his elite athleticism, ability to create his own shot off the dribble, and on-ball defensive upside made him a promising long-term prospect, he needed to add 10 to 15 pounds of muscle, improve his 3-point shooting consistency, and refine his pick-and-roll decision-making to compete at the NBA level immediately. After two weeks of deliberation with his family, high school coaches, and advisors, Able opted to turn down offers from the NBA G League Ignite program and several other top college programs including Duke, Kansas, and Kentucky to join UNC. “I grew up watching UNC basketball, and I’ve always dreamed of playing in the Dean Smith Center in front of the best fans in college basketball,” Able said in his official announcement. “Coach Hubert Davis has a proven track record of developing guards for the NBA, and playing in the ACC against the best competition in college basketball, plus the chance to compete in March Madness, will help me grow far more than any other path right now. My goal is still to be a first-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, and I know UNC is the best place to make that happen.” UNC head coach Hubert Davis also praised the addition of Able, who fills a critical gap in the Tar Heels’ backcourt left by the graduation of leading scorer RJ Davis and the departure of guard Seth Trimble to the transfer portal. The Tar Heels, who finished as ACC regular season champions and advanced to the Elite Eight last season, are now widely projected as a top-3 preseason team for the 2024-2025 season, with Able joining returning forward Jalen Washington and transfer center Harrison Ingram to form a core capable of competing for the program’s seventh national title.