Latest news with #DenzelAberdeen
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Todd Golden Names Florida Transfer That Was 'Tough' to Lose
Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden brought a national championship to Gainesville in just three seasons. However, like everyone else, he has to deal with the highs and lows of the transfer portal. One of the recent players Florida lost to the portal was guard Denzel Aberdeen. Advertisement Golden joined the "Field of 68: After Dark" podcast to discuss the transfer. He stated that losing Aberdeen was "tough," but he was confident in Florida's ability to bounce back from it. Florida won its third national title in college basketball last season, beating the Houston Cougars 65-63. The Gators' last national title in college basketball was during the 2006-2007 season. Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden.© Bob Donnan-Imagn Images "Losing Denzel Aberdeen was tough, but we wish him nothing but the best," Golden said. "I'm pretty confident we can find somebody to take that spot. The Gators are gonna have a really good group again next year." Aberdeen was a reliable scoring option off the bench, averaging 7.7 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. He played in 40 games for the Gators last season with five starts. Advertisement His season-high in points came against the South Carolina Gamecocks on Feb. 15, where he scored 22 points in an 88-67 win. Aberdeen spent three seasons at Florida before opting to transfer. He committed to the Kentucky Wildcats on April 21. Aberdeen was a former three-star prospect in the 2022 class out of Orlando, Florida. He was the No. 5 combo guard in the On3 Transfer Portal Industry Rankings. The Gators also lost power forward Sam Alexis to the portal. Alexis has committed to the Indiana Hoosiers. Florida's two transfer additions this offseason are shooting guard AJ Brown (Ohio) and Xaivian Lee (Princeton). Related: Florida Making Rival Transfer Portal Target a 'Top Priority'
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Florida Loses Key Player From Championship Team to SEC Rival
The Florida Gators have lost a pivotal piece of their roster as guard Denzel Aberdeen has committed to one of the Gators' biggest SEC rivals in the Kentucky Wildcats through the NCAA Transfer Portal. The news, announced by On3's Joe Tipton, marks a significant blow to the reigning national champions, who are now navigating the departure of multiple players this offseason. Advertisement Aberdeen, a 6'5' junior guard, spent three seasons with the Gators, playing an underrated yet crucial role in their 2025 NCAA Tournament run. Known for his solid shooting and versatility, he dropped 22 points against South Carolina and 20 points against Mississippi State earlier this season, showcasing his ability to step up in big moments. His transfer to the Wildcats, a perennial powerhouse under head coach Mark Pope, adds fuel to the already heated Florida-Kentucky rivalry. Florida Gators head coach Todd GoldenBob Donnan-Imagn Images The Gators have been active in the portal, adding guard Xaivian Lee, but losing Aberdeen—alongside other departures like Sam Alexis—could impact their depth as they aim to defend their title. Advertisement Meanwhile, Kentucky fans are celebrating the addition, with Pope's transfer portal haul now ranking No. 3 nationally, according to 247Sports. Aberdeen's experience and scoring ability are expected to make an immediate impact for the Wildcats, who are building a formidable 2025-26 roster. As the transfer portal continues to reshape college basketball, this move underscores the competitive nature of the SEC. The Gators now face the challenge of replacing a key contributor, while the Wildcats gain a proven talent ready to shine in Lexington. Related: Chad Johnson Wants to Meet DJ Lagway's Superstar Teammate
Reuters
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Reports: National champion Florida sets White House visit
May 18 - NCAA Tournament champion Florida will celebrate its national title Wednesday at the White House, multiple outlets reported Sunday. The Florida-centered Swamp247 reported that head coach Todd Golden and the rest of his staff are expected to visit the White House along with the majority of the players. It was unclear whether Denzel Aberdeen, who has transferred to Kentucky, will make the trip to Washington, D.C. Sam Alexis, a transfer to Indiana, is listed as part of the traveling party, per Swamp247. The Gators won the school's third national championship on April 7, defeating Houston 65-63 in San Antonio. Golden said the White House visit will be welcome. "I've been told we're going to the White House, so I'm pretty excited about that," Golden said April 12. "We'll have to get everybody back together to be able to go do that." After winning the NCAA Tournament in 2006 and 2007, the Gators met with former President George W. Bush in back-to-back years. --Field Level Media
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Denzel Aberdeen transferring to Kentucky for senior season, leaving national champion Florida
Denzel Aberdeen deciding to enter the transfer portal after Florida won the men's college basketball national championship was enough of a surprise. But the 6-foot-5 guard doubled down on shock value by choosing to transfer to SEC rival Kentucky, according to several reports. Going into his senior season, the guard figured to have a significant role for head coach Todd Golden's squad, taking over the lead scoring role left by Walter Clayton Jr., with Will Richard and Alijah Martin also finishing their eligibility. Aberdeen averaged 7.7 points per game and shot 35% on 3-pointers in 39 games (five starts) as a junior for the Gators, for whom he played three seasons. The team's fifth-leading scorer, he notched consecutive 20-point performances in mid-February against Mississippi State and South Carolina. DENZEL ABERDEEN BUZZER BEATER FROM THE PARKING LOT 🤯🤯🤯 You can't call anything that happens in the first half of a game a 'dagger,' but the timing of that shot— snapping the momentum Tennessee had built late in the half— feels pretty devastating. 20 minutes to a trophy. — (@AllKindsWeather) March 16, 2025 During Florida's NCAA tournament run, Aberdeen had his best scoring performance with 12 points versus Maryland in the Sweet 16. He tallied seven points in the win over Houston in the national title game. Coming to Gainesville, Aberdeen was rated a four-star prospect by Rivals in the 2022 recruiting class out of Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando, Florida. Aberdeen figures to have a featured role at Kentucky for head coach Mark Pope. The Wildcats finished 24-12 overall and sixth in the SEC at 10-8, before losing in the NCAA tournament third round to Tennessee. Seven seniors are gone from last season's team and leading scorer Otega Oweh (16.2 points per game) could leave after declaring for the NBA Draft. But Pope has made a major plunge into the transfer portal to restock the roster. Joining Aberdeen in Lexington will be guard Jaland Lowe from Pittsburgh, former Tulane wing Kam Williams, Mouhamed Dioubate from Alabama and Jayden Quaintance, formerly of Arizona State. Additionally, the Wildcats will add four-star recruit Jasper Johnson, whom Rivals ranked as the No. 2 point guard nationally in the 2025 class, along with two 6-11 forwards in Malachi Moreno and Andrija Jelavic from Croatia.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
National Champion Stays in SEC, Transfers to Rival School
Florida came out on top in the NCAA Tournament, winning the 2025 national championship that cemented head coach Todd Golden's legacy in Gainesville, doing it in one of the most competitive conferences in NCAA history. The Gators led the SEC conference and its record-breaking 14 teams that earned NCAA Tournament bids this March, but it might look a lot different next season. Advertisement NCAA's transfer portal has shaken the entire nation with mixed emotions and tons of players are moving on to the next step in their careers. Florida guard Denzel Aberdeen transfers to Kentucky Joe Tipton of On3 Sports announced on Monday that Denzel Aberdeen is moving on to play for head coach Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats. Aberdeen will look for a better opportunity to get more playing time in the move to Kentucky. The fourth-year guard spent three years with Florida and only managed five starts for the Gators. His junior year was the season that Aberdeen broke out and was able to contribute in the 19.7 minutes a game he got. Advertisement In the 2024-2025 season, the six-foot-five guard from Orlando, Florida, averaged 7.7 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists. Mar 29, 2025; San Francisco, CA, USA; Florida Gators guard Denzel Aberdeen (11) drives to the hoop past Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Elijah Hawkins (3) during the second half during the West Regional final of the 2025 NCAA tournament at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images Eakin Howard-Imagn Images His best performances came near the end of the regular season. On Feb. 11, he scored 20 points, grabbed four rebounds and added two assists while shooting 58% from the field against Mississippi State. Aberdeen carried momentum into the next game, scoring a career-high 22 points on 66% shooting, along with two rebounds and three assists on Feb. 15 in a game against South Carolina. It will be interesting to see what the senior guard can do for Coach Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats. Pope will be in his second year with Kentucky. In his first season, he was able to silence all of the doubters and finish the season as the No. 12 ranked team in the country with an overall record of 24-12 and 10-8 in conference play.
