Florida transfer Denzel Aberdeen with Kentucky coach Mark Pope. (UK Athletics Photo)
Denzel Aberdeen played behind perhaps the nation’s best scoring guards in the country last year with national champion Florida.
He was known more for his versatility, physicalness and ability to impact a game on the defensive end.
However, two of his Kentucky teammates — Trent Noah and Collin Chandler — said earlier this week not to underestimate his shooting skills.
“He’s definitely been shooting it good, too,” Noah said when I asked him about Aberdeen. “In our shooting drills today, I noticed that he was definitely catching fire.
“But he’s just a great all-around player. He’s a really good two-way guard, and that’s something that we’ll need this year.”
Aberdeen averaged 7.7 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 19.8 minutes per game last season in a reserve role. He shot 41 percent overall from the field and 34 percent from 3, but he made five 3’s in a game against South Carolina and had eight games with two or more 3’s.
“He was coming off the bench and providing those very impactful minutes for Florida. He’s a very good scorer, he’s also a very good shooter. He shoots the ball really well and he has the ball on a string, which makes him very dangerous as a guard and as a ball handler,” Chandler said. “That’s going to be very valuable to us as well.”
When he did start five games during conference play, he averaged 14.4 points, 2.6 assists and 2.4 rebounds per game while playing almost 30 minutes per game. In those five games, he hit 41 percent from 3 — and Florida went 5-0 in those games.
“I don’t know exactly the role that Denzel will play for us, but I know that he can contribute in so many different facets,” Chandler said.
4 Responses
Lowe will be the starting point guard and Aberdeen will see significant minutes at the 1 and 2 spots. Johnson will be the 3rd in line for minutes at the 1 and 2 spot, with Oweh being the starting shooting guard. There will be a few minutes for Chandler and Noah, but that will shrink to mop up minutes, if that, once SEC play starts.
They will play more until JQ is fully healthy. Lowe/Aberdeen/Oweh/Mo-D/Garrison will probably be the starting 5. With Johnson/Chandler/Williams/Noah/Jelavic or Moreno. Then once JQ comes back Lowe/Oweh/Mo-D/JQ/Garrison with Johnson/Chandler/Noah/Williams/Jelavic or Moreno as the backups to the positions. People forget that KAM Williams can play the 2-4 positions. He’s almost 6’9" and he would be a great stretch 4. Really a better stretch 4 than a 3. He will be much quicker than the 4 that guards him. I think Noah will be the backup 3.
Williams is too thin IMO.
He would.definitely have to put on some muscle.