WATCH: Matt Able: “We’re Going to Win a Lot of Games”

Guard Matt Able met with the media yesterday prior to NC State’s first 2025-26 Men’s Basketball practice. You can watch the video above, and read the transcript below.

It’s amazing. I feel like D5 (Darrion Williams) is a great player. He’s going to do great things with us and I’ve loved playing with him.

I love being his teammate. It’s a great experience, and I can say it’s the same thing for the rest of my teammates as well.

Similar deal, getting Musa (Sagnia) at the very end. What have you seen from him, and what did you think of that pick up?

Man, he’s a great guy. He brings so much energy, always happy, always smiling. There’s nothing negative I can really say about him.

He’s always just positive and smiling. He’s a great player. Obviously, you guys know he played pro and stuff.

He’s a really just good player overall. I’m excited.

You committed before everybody else did. What was it like to watch guys join you?

Just super exciting. I didn’t know exactly who we were getting. I knew Coach Wade was going to do some great things.

Just having Coach Wade know what he’s doing, being a great coach, I was just super excited. Just seeing everyone commit, and seeing the pieces fall together, it was a great feeling. I trusted it from the beginning.

Who was someone you went against this summer at one of the various camps, where you were like, “Okay, I know I have to improve to get to that guy’s level?

Donovan Mitchell. Trae Young.

Those are two dudes I played against at Spider Camp, but I think I’m a very talented, capable player.

I think we have a great team. I think we’re going to win a lot of games. I have no doubt about that at all.

Coach said that sometimes freshmen come in, they’re 18 going on 8, and some are 18 going on 28. He said you fell in the latter category. What is it about you that he sees as being such a mature freshman?

I think it’s my mentality, how I’ve been raised.

I think it’s the guys I have around me as well. I have great teammates. I have a lot of seniority on the team. So I have guys that have helped guide me and just lead me overall. It’s been a great experience. I’m just learning a lot and I’m loving it.

How did you settle on your number this year?

I’ve worn 3 for a while. I used to wear 35 because of my dad, but I wear 3 now.  It’s my favorite number.

No one else wanted it, so.

What’s it like being a Freshman on campus?

It’s pretty cool.

I’m getting used to college life, just hanging out. I got classes and everything. It’s just been great so far.

There’s a lot of love in Raleigh. The fans are amazing. People just coming up, walking to class, saying, hey, just having conversations with people.

It’s been great. I’m loving the energy here in Raleigh.