How signing 4-star SG Matt Able set the tone for Will Wade’s recruiting efforts at NC State

Will Wade became “ticked off” when began calling high school coaches around the country to look for an impact freshman to sign in his first recruiting class at NC State. The high-level programs had players for Wade, but they were the second tier on the roster. Those weren't the players he was looking for. Instead, Wade wanted the best of the best. It didn’t matter that NC State might not have been viewed as a destination for the top recruits to land out of high school, Wade was determined to make it just that. The 42-year-old wanted a top-20 recruit, not a middle of the pack player. That’s where Tampa (Fla.) Sagemont Prep four-star shooting guard Matthew Able, the No. 19 player in the 2025 cycle, came into play. He decommitted from Miami after a coaching change and was one of the top available players in his class. Wade was determined to land a blue-chip recruit, which he closed the deal with just days after Able’s official visit to Raleigh.  Wade, who was focused on sending a ripple through the ACC to prove he was ready to recruit against the best, felt like he did just that with Able.