Latest news with #DenzelAberdeen
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kentucky basketball still winning on recruiting trail with Mark Pope's deliberate approach
Recruiting college basketball transformed with name, image and likeness and now direct payments from schools where more decisions are made based on dollar signs than relationships. Kentucky basketball coach Mark Pope is proving with his approach that there's still room for reason. His unique pitch to players allows him to be much more tactical about whom he pursues. Advertisement He's not producing the assembly line of one-and-dones that was the norm for 15 seasons under former coach John Calipari. To the contrary, Pope's roster construction is like upgrading to automated robots that are much more precise. Pope's philosophy produced what 247 Sports ranked as the No. 4 overall recruiting class for 2025 nationally and the fifth-best transfer class, respectively. (For those keeping score, Arkansas ranked sixth overall.) Sure, UK has the resources to make an intriguing monetary pitch to any player, but if it were just about having money to throw around, a place like Texas A&M would be a championship factory even in hoops. Pope makes it about the why. Advertisement Denzel Aberdeen was valued by a lot of high-major schools. The reserve guard, who won the 2025 national title with Florida, could have stayed put anticipating a larger role with the Gators after the graduation of Walter Clayton Jr. and Alijah Martin. Aberdeen's average doubled to 14.4 points per game in the five starts he made due to injuries last season. The potential was there for him to be a featured guard. Instead, he was convinced that joining UK was the best fit for him, even though his role could end up being similar to what he did last season at Florida. Aberdeen knew the moment he got off a Zoom call with Pope. 'It was definitely unique; our phone call lasted about three hours,' Aberdeen said. Advertisement Imagine being intrigued, entertained and engaged to the point of staying on a call for three hours. Pope was able to keep him interested because of what he presented. He used analytical charts breaking down Aberdeen's shooting to display the percentages of where he was best and where he could be better. They went over game highlights where Pope showed how Aberdeen would fit into the Cats offensively. He broke down defensive clips of how Aberdeen could get better using his chest more to stop opponents driving instead of reaching with his hands. He challenged Aberdeen, who averaged 1.7 rebounds last season, in explaining how he could improve as a rebounder, too. By the time they got off, Aberdeen had heard enough. He said he was considering four other schools, but Pope's presentation was so thorough he didn't take another call. Advertisement 'I called my dad like 20 minutes after like, 'Yeah, Dad, this is probably the place to go,'' Aberdeen said. Mouhamed Dioubate, a transfer from Alabama, had a similar interaction with Pope over his Zoom calls. The 6-foot-7 forward said he was already leaning UK but got the confirmation once they spoke. 'It didn't take much; it just took what I felt like I needed to hear,' Dioubate said. What he needed to hear was the right plan. Over the course of two calls, Dioubate said Pope ironed out what he envisioned the future would be like. In signing Aberdeen and Dioubate, the Cats filled a need for physical and versatile defensive players. That was an area of weakness for UK last season that ultimately led to postseason losses in the SEC and NCAA tournaments. Advertisement Just amassing the most talented players available for the roster was not going to fix the problem. In examining the entire recruiting class, there's a clear logic to why Pope signed each player and what role they will potentially play next season. 'He's trying to win for real; he's not playing,' Dioubate said. '… He's trying to keep the standard to where it always has been.' Only Pope is adhering to the standard by creating a new one with a much more targeted approach to recruiting. Reach sports columnist C.L. Brown at clbrown1@ follow him on X at @CLBrownHoops and subscribe to his newsletter at to make sure you never miss one of his columns. This story was updated to add a gallery. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky basketball recruiting: Mark Pope winning transfer portal era
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Denzel Aberdeen details ‘no-brainer' decision to transfer to Wildcats
The post Denzel Aberdeen details 'no-brainer' decision to transfer to Wildcats appeared first on ClutchPoints. The SEC dominated college basketball this season, culminating in an NCAA Tournament record of 14 out of 16 teams making the tournament. Florida won a thriller against the Houston Cougars in the National Championship and won their third championship ever as a program. Denzel Aberdeen was a key piece for the Gators off the bench, but he recently transferred to a fellow SEC rival, the Kentucky Wildcats. The Gators were juggernauts, and Aberdeen was a massive glue guy who helped them get things settled when they needed it, but he could not jump to starting in Florida, so he transferred to Kentucky. He spoke with Daniel Hager of On3 about his decision to transfer from Gainesville and join the Kentucky basketball team. He mentioned how it was an easy decision and that it did not take much time to decide on heading to Lexington. 'It was pretty quick,' Aberdeen responded about Kentucky and the transfer portal. 'They called and I told my dad, 'This is the school I want to be at.' I just saw all the people who came in and out of this school and all the great players. My main goal is to make it to the NBA, and just seeing how this school has shown transfer guys how to be great men on and off the court is something I want to achieve. When they called, I was like 'man, I gotta go here.' Kentucky is one of the best programs in college basketball, and there was not much of a fall-off between John Calipari leaving for Arkansas and Mark Pope taking over as head coach of his alma mater. Calipari created an NBA factory in Lexington with players like Anthony Davis, Devin Booker, John Wall, and Karl-Anthony Towns, to name a few. Still, Pope got two players drafted this year: Koby Brea and Amari Williams. Brea also said he was the best shooter in the draft before it even started. Aberdeen elaborated more, 'Playing for coach [Mark] Pope, obviously another National Champion, and just the school itself and the people and the atmosphere here… It's wild. I've been watching on TV, and we played against them last year here, and it was wild. When they called, it was pretty much a no-brainer for me. I was like Man, I gotta do it. I'm ready.' Aberdeen is the perfect guard to embody Kentucky basketball. The Mark Pope style of offense is fast and run-and-gun, with a lot of focus on shooting, and as long as Aberdeen polishes his shot, he should succeed for the Wildcats.
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Who will Florida basketball play in-conference in 2025-26? UF's SEC opponents revealed
Former Florida basketball guard Denzel Aberdeen will make a return trip to the O'Connell Center with Kentucky during the 2025-26 season. The Florida Gators will face Kentucky home and away, along with South Carolina and Georgia, the SEC revealed on June 18. Advertisement In addition, UF will host Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, LSU and Mississippi State at the O'Connell Center. Florida's away-only games will come against Ole Miss, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt. Aberdeen, an instrumental bench player during UF's run to its third national title in 2024-25, entered the transfer portal last April and signed with Kentucky. It created another hole in the backcourt the Gators had to fill after losing senior starters Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin and Will Richard to eligibility. Florida regrouped by signing three guards out of the transfer portal ― former Princeton point guard Xaivian Lee, former Ohio point guard A.J. Brown and former Arkansas point guard Boogie Fland. Advertisement Florida has opened against Kentucky in SEC play in each of the last two seasons. Last season, in UF's lone matchup with the Wildcats, the Gators lost 106-100 at Rupp Arena on Jan. 4, 2025. In Kentucky's last trip to the O'Connell Center, the Wildcats beat UF 87-85 on Jan. 6. 2024. Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun's Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@ Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1. Read his coverage of the Gators' national championship basketball season in 'CHOMP-IONS!' — a hardcover coffee-table collector's book from The Sun. Details at This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida basketball SEC opponents for 2025-26 season announced
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
