Denzel Aberdeen transferring to Kentucky is a huge win for the Wildcats heading into the 2025-26 season. The assignment for the Wildcats is winning the program’s ninth national championship this season, something Aberdeen knows a thing or two about.
The Orlando, Florida native was on the Florida Gators national championship team in 2025, and he’s now coming to Kentucky looking to help the Wildcats cut down the nets for the first time since 2012.
So, what does Aberdeen’s former head coach at Florida,
Todd Golden, think about Aberdeen leaving?
“I think Denzel is a great young man, and we’re grateful for the time that he spent in our program,” Golden told Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports. “He obviously helped us win a national championship last year and took advantage of the new world of college basketball and free agency. He had a program like Kentucky that was able to come in here and take advantage, give him an opportunity, both from a basketball standpoint and financially.
“That was probably a little too good for him to turn down.”
Kentucky and Florida will play twice next season, with the first meeting on Valentine’s Day, February 14th, in Gainesville, Florida. The game in Lexington will be on Saturday, March 7th.
Those two games could have enormous stakes. Now, add Aberdeen facing his former team on Valentine’s Day in what could be a marquee game.
“He’s going to have to come back into the O’Dome and get received by our fans. Our staff will be ready to compete against Denzel, and I think Denzel will be ready to compete against us,” Golden said. “He’s a great young man and a good player, but it’s a great example of what college basketball is like in 2025.”
It’s game on.
