The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1543694
22 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY NOAH FLEISCHMAN att Able has never b e e n o n e to ba c k down from a chal- lenge. He has the kind of mindset that most coaches would love to have on their team. Simply put, he be- lieves he can be the best player on any court he plays on. During the summer leading up to his freshman season at NC State, Able proved exactly that. He made the rounds, including winning the three-point shooting contest at the Iverson Classic over the nation's other top recruits in Hampton Roads, Va., before gaining ex- perience at the USA Basketball U19 try- outs in Colorado Springs, Colo. Along the way, Able also took part in camps hosted by NBA stars Chris Paul, Damian Lillard and Donovan Mitchell. He was among the top performers at the Olin Simplis open runs, in which he held his own against the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle and other high-major basketball players. And somehow, in between all that off- campus activity, Able was finding time to train with the Pack inside the Dail Bas- ketball Center ahead of his first season under coach Will Wade. Those performances offered glimpses of his potential, but to truly understand him, one must first bear in mind that he puts himself up against the best com- petition for a reason. The 6-foot-6, 205-pound guard has aspirations of be- coming an NBA star, and he's willing to do whatever it takes to get to that stage in his basketball career. In order to reach his highest goals, Able understands that he needs to carry himself with a sense of absolute self- M WILLING WILLING AND ABLE AND ABLE Freshman Guard Matt Able Comes On Strong In The Season's Homestretch Able has been an emerging star for the Wolfpack, totaling 17 points against Miami and 19 in the team's 82-58 win over North Carolina. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS