Gators Guard Denzel Aberdeen Enters Transfer Portal, Plans to Play Elsewhere Next Season
Loss Deals Major Blow to Backcourt Continuity as Florida Faces Guard Rebuild
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida Gators guard Denzel Aberdeen has officially entered the NCAA transfer portal, signaling his intent to leave the program and play elsewhere in the upcoming 2025-26 season. The announcement comes as a significant blow to the Gators’ backcourt, which was already facing questions about depth and continuity heading into next season.
Aberdeen, a 6-foot-4 guard from Orlando, spent the past three seasons with the Gators and steadily carved out a more prominent role, especially during the 2024-25 campaign. Known for his high basketball IQ, scoring ability, and defensive energy, Aberdeen averaged 7.6 points, 2.4 assists, and 2.1 rebounds per game this past season while serving as a key rotational piece off the bench. His versatility allowed him to fill in at both guard spots, often providing a stabilizing presence in critical moments.
His decision to transfer now leaves Florida with a sizable gap in its backcourt rotation, as the Gators had already lost veteran guard Zyon Pullin to graduation and rising freshman Riley Kugel to the NBA Draft. With Aberdeen’s departure, Florida will now be without its top three playmakers from last season, prompting an urgent need for reinforcements through both the transfer portal and incoming recruits.
Head coach Todd Golden expressed mixed emotions following the news. “Denzel is a tremendous young man and a hardworking competitor,” Golden said in a statement. “While we’re sad to see him go, we support his decision and wish him nothing but success moving forward.”
Aberdeen’s departure is particularly painful given the leadership void it creates. While not always the team’s leading scorer, he was regarded internally as a vocal leader and a consistent presence on and off the court. His familiarity with Golden’s system and strong locker room presence will be hard to replace as the team looks to regroup during the offseason.
As for what’s next, the Gators’ coaching staff now faces the task of reconstructing a backcourt from scratch. Florida has already extended offers to several portal entrants and is believed to be in the mix for multiple high-profile guards. Additionally, the incoming freshman class includes four-star point guard Jayden Garrison, who may now be thrust into a more immediate role.
Aberdeen has not yet revealed where he plans to transfer, but early reports suggest several high-major programs have already reached out. His combination of size, experience, and poise makes him an attractive target for teams looking to add veteran depth and leadership in the backcourt.
With Florida coming off a promising yet ultimately inconsistent season that ended in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, the stakes are high for a successful offseason rebuild. Aberdeen’s departure adds a new layer of urgency—and uncertainty—to that effort.
As the portal continues to reshape college basketball rosters nationwide, Florida’s next few moves will be pivotal in determining the trajectory of the program moving forward. For now, though, the loss of Denzel Aberdeen leaves a void that won’t be easy to fill.
