Matthew Able Impressed by Visit to Tennessee
by Houston Wilson
Top 30 ranked senior Matthew Able recently decommitted from Miami and has since reopened his recruitment, exploring new options. The 6'5" shooting guard out of Sagemont Prep (FL) has been actively visiting schools, with stops at Tennessee on Saturday and Alabama on Wednesday. He spoke with Locker Room Access about his ongoing process.
“It’s been a little crazy, especially balancing everything with school, but overall, it’s been good,” Able shared. “My circle and I have had a lot of conversations about different schools. While it’s been hectic at times, it’s still an exciting experience.”
Able was highly impressed by what he saw in Knoxville.
“Tennessee was amazing. The environment was electric—it was a sold-out crowd, and witnessing that game-winning shot in person was incredible. Seeing basketball played at such a high level was truly special,” he said. “I also had great conversations with Coach Barnes and the rest of the staff.”
When asked about the message from Rick Barnes and his staff, Able emphasized the opportunity they presented.
“Their main message was that they love the kind of player I am. They’re losing a lot of guys next year with all the seniors moving on, so there will be plenty of minutes available,” he explained. “Obviously, I’ll have to come in and earn those minutes, but knowing there’s a real opportunity is definitely appealing.”
Watching Tennessee in person gave Able a clear vision of how he could fit into their system.
“After seeing them play, I really think I’d fit well in their system as both a ball handler and a scorer,” he noted. “I see a lot of things Chaz Lanier does that I could replicate, but I also feel like I bring something different as a primary ball handler, which is something they’ll need next year.”
Beyond basketball, the overall atmosphere of the campus also stood out to him.
“I really liked the feel of the campus. Everything is close and within walking distance, but at the same time, it’s big enough to have plenty of things to do.”
Able followed up his Tennessee trip with an unofficial visit to Alabama, where he attended their matchup against Florida.
“It was another great visit. I really enjoyed my time in Tuscaloosa,” he said. “Watching two top-five teams compete in another intense environment was awesome. Even though Alabama didn’t come out with the win, it was great to see how Coach Nate Oats runs his system.”
As for his recruitment timeline, Able isn’t rushing to make a decision.
“I’ll be at Baylor on Saturday for their game against Houston, which should be another great matchup,” he said. “Other than that, I don’t have anything else scheduled yet. I’m just going to keep talking to these schools and see if I plan any more visits. I don’t really have a set timeline for when I’ll commit.”
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