Aberdeen: UK is as Good or Better than Florida was Last Year

Denzel Aberdeen, second from left, likes UK's talent and believes the Cats can win the national title. (UK Athletics Photo)

Kentucky fans liked guard Denzel Aberdeen as soon as he transferred from national champion Florida to Kentucky.

Now they probably like him even more after the comparison he made about the 2025 national championship team at Florida to the team he’s on now at Kentucky.

“I think here is even better, just knowing that the guys we have here and the coaching staff and then just this university itself, the people here are amazing,” Aberdeen, a backup guard at Florida last season, said in his first appearance with UK media this week.

“The atmosphere is amazing, so I think that pushes us. We know what we got to do when we come here, put on a Kentucky jersey, and just playing for the University of Kentucky is a big thing. Just being here, it’s a blessing.”

Aberdeen averaged 6.0 points and 1.8 rebounds per game in six NCAA Tournament games and shot 40 percent from 3-point range. He had seven points and two rebounds in the national title game against Houston.

He played in all 39 games, including five starts, for Florida last season and averaged 7.7 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. He also shot 35 percent from 3.

“I’m trying to use my past experiences from my previous school and trying to bring it here because, obviously, I know the goal is to win number nine,” Aberdeen, who hopes to become the first player to win a national title at two different schools, said. “Just bringing what I was taught in my past years at the University of Florida and bringing it here, trying to get number nine (championship for UK).

“I know we want that, especially all the coaches and players. I’m making it my job this year to bring a lot of leadership and bring guys together and just remind them what our main focus is for the year.”

Even though the Florida native won a national title with the Gators, he’s looking for even better experiences on and off the court at Kentucky playing for coach Mark Pope.

“We had a lot of great players at Florida, especially the tall bigs. Bigs that love to run there, and we have just as much as here,” Aberdeen said.  “Our bigs love to run, they play defense, and they play at a fast pace. So I think the things that we’ve got here are just as good, or even better.

“I think our team has got a real shot of winning number nine this year. I think we’ll be ready to shock a lot of people this year.”