Denzel Aberdeen, left, battles Mo Dioubate during a recent UK practice. (UK Athletics Photo)
After consulting with his Dad and pondering his future with offers from 3-5 programs, including Texas Tech and Indiana, Denzel Aberdeen made a decision that changed the course of his collegiate career when he decided to transfer to Kentucky.
“(It was) a no-brainer,” said Aberdeen, who averaged 7.7 points and nearly 20 minutes per game off the bench for national champion Florida last year. “Just seeing all the past people who came in and out of this school, all the great players. My main goal is to make it to the NBA, and seeing how this school has trained guys on and off the court, when they called, I was like, man, I’ve got to come here and play for Coach Pope.”
Even though Florida had just won the national title, Aberdeen wasn’t fully convinced his future was in the Sunshine State.
“I’m just happy for Kentucky reaching out and giving me an opportunity to play here,” he said. “Things happen in life — it’s all in God’s plan.”
The plan, Aberdeen said, is to “bring 100 percent each and every game.”
“No matter what the coach wants me to do, I’m going to do it, whether that’s score, guard, come in and rebound, or defend — anything to help this team win,” Aberdeen said.
Aberdeen is excited about being part of Pope’s offense and recalled the team’s 106-100 loss to the Wildcats in the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams at Rupp Arena.
It was a very high-scoring game (with) a lot of offense, not much defense,” he said. “I remember (UK) went on a run, a little 15-0 run or something like that, and it got very loud. It was crazy. (Being) on the opposing side, it was one of the worst places to play. They got really loud (and) I’m glad to have 20,000-something people cheering for me here now.”
Aberdeen brings championship and veteran experience to this year’s squad and he hopes it results in another banner season.
“I know the goal is to win No. 9,” he said. “I know the fans want that, we want that, all the staff and coaches want that. That pushes us.
“We know what we gotta do when we come here and put on that Kentucky jersey. Just playing for the University of Kentucky is a big thing. Being here is a blessing, and I can’t look back.”
One Response
This picture in one word is…SEC. The most physical conference in college basketball. What Pope has done with this roster is get guys who play great defense and is very physical. We are also one of the most athletic teams in college basketball. If this team can shoot the basketball then there is nothing that they can’t do. Popes job this summer is to find rotations that work. You don’t just throw your best 5 guys on the court and expect them to gel. There will be different lineups to do different things. There will be a defensive lineup and a shooting lineup. I think you will have to blend shooting with defense. Johnson/Oweh/Noah/Williams/Jelavic would probably be the shooting lineup. You could switch Oweh for Chandler for a even better shooter lineup. Aberdeen/Oweh/Mo-D/JQ/Garrison would probably be the defensive lineup.