Denzel Aberdeen explains leaving NCAA champions Florida for Mark Pope’s Kentucky

Denzel Aberdeen had the opportunity to return to the Florida Gators next season. He would have been one of the few returning players from the national championship-winning squad. However, rather than return to Gainesville, Aberdeen opted to enter the transfer portal. Within a few days of entering the portal, he committed to the Kentucky Wildcats.

While speaking with reporters on Monday, Aberdeen explained his decision to transfer to Kentucky despite winning the national title with Florida.

"It was pretty much between me and my family," Aberdeen said.

The move for Aberdeen to transfer came as a surprise, considering he is an Orlando, Florida native. As a result, it would be easy to assume that if he were deciding with family in mind, he would have chosen to stay in Florida.

Aberdeen continued his conversation with reporters on Monday by speaking about his excitement to join Mark Pope and the Wildcats.

"I’m just happy for Kentucky for reaching out and giving me a chance to play here and try to get (a national championship) here," Aberdeen said. "Like I said. Things happen in life but, I mean, it’s all in God’s plans. So, just being here, being at Kentucky, being at this next school I’m at, I’m just happy to be here and ready to go."

Denzel Aberdeen will try to step into a bigger role with the Kentucky Wildcats

One of the reasons Denzel Aberdeen could have possibly had for leaving the Florida Gators would be to play a bigger role. Aberdeen finished his junior year this past season, receiving a big jump in playing time. However, he only started five out of 39 games.

Aberdeen primarily served as a spark plug off the bench, averaging 7.7 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. Now he is joining Mark Pope's squad, where he might be able to get into the starting lineup.

The Kentucky Wildcats had an incredible run under coach John Calipari, but the team fizzled out a bit in his final seasons. As a result, Calipari left for Arkansas, and Pope took over as coach. In his first season leading the Wildcats, he helped them reach the Sweet 16 — the team's best NCAA tournament run since 2019, when they reached the Elite Eight.