Denzel Aberdeen is back: Well, sort of

Denzel Aberdeen is returning to UF if he can get an NCAA waiver (Photo by Chris Spears)

Denzel Aberdeen is back. Well, sort of.

Earlier in the week Aberdeen placed his name in the transfer portal. Friday he announced he is committed to return to Florida where his college career started. On paper, this sounds great. He already knows Todd Golden’s offense and defensive schemes. He was a valuable reserve on the Gators’ national championship team in 2025, the player who scored the final point at the foul line in Florida’s 65-63 win over Houston in the title game.

He also bolted for Kentucky where he played last season, averaging 13.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists for the Wildcats, who made it to the second game of the NCAA Tournament. He wasn’t supposed to be the starting point guard at Kentucky.  That’s why the Wildcats Jaland Lowe, a pure point who had an outstanding year at Pittsburgh but when Lowe suffered a season-ending injury in game nine, Denzel moved over to the point and stayed there the rest of the season. The results were mixed. He had some very good games, but the longe the season progressed the more obvious it became that he’s a combo guard, more wing than point.

Now Kentucky is undergoing a complete roster overhaul with only four players – none of them starters – returning and just one freshman signee. With its traditions and willingness to spend in the portal ($22 million last year), Kentucky believes it can do what Dusty May did at Michigan and assemble a championship roster through transfers.

Will it work for the Wildcats? Aberdeen obviously wasn’t sold on the idea so he went into the portal. Now he has committed to return to Florida where he is still good friends with Tommy Haugh, Alex Condon, Rueben Chinyelu, Isaiah Brown and Viktor Mikic.

He seems to be an instant fit at Florida, but there is just one teensy little problem. Aberdeen has already played four years of college basketball but he only appeared in 12 games as a freshman, averaging 3.3 minutes per appearance. Per NCAA rules Aberdeen is ineligible for another year but he has applied for a waiver that will grant him one more year.

Judging by the inconsistencies within the NCAA it’s a coin flip whether or not Aberdeen will get the waiver. Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss was denied an eligibility waiver by the NCAA, but he’s won twice in court. Will the NCAA continue to fight or give in? Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia fought the NCAA in court and won even though he played two years of juco and two years at New Mexico State before playing two at Vandy. Prior to playing his final year of college basketball at Vandy last season, Duke Miles played three years at Troy, one year at High Point and one year at Oklahoma. He got an extra year because of COVID (2021) and an injury waiver for 2023 when he played six games prior to injury.

The NCAA won in court against Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar, who took a redshirt his freshman year at a California juco, didn’t get to play in 2021 because of Covid, then spent two years at another juco. He went on to play two years at Appalachian State and last season at Tennessee.

Considering Aberdeen is only asking for a fifth year, it would seem his case is a slam dunk yes from the NCAA, but remember, it is the NCAA we’re talking about here. In its infinite wisdom, the NCAA tends to be all over the place when it comes to selectively enforcing its own rules so there are no guarantees. But, it seems doubtful Todd Golden would have approved of Aberdeen’s return if it seemed unlikely that the waiver would be rejected.

While Aberdeen awaits a decision from the NCAA, Golden waits decisions by Tommy Haugh, Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu. Haugh seems most likely to leave for the NBA since most draft projections have him going in the final third of the first round lottery. Condon is borderline first round, but nearly every expert projects him to go in the middle third of the second round (picks 11-20). Chinyelu needs a jump shot so he’s second round at best. Condon and Chinyelu seem likely to return. Based on NIL projections, the two of them would make more money at Florida than they would in the second round of the NBA Draft.

Would the return of Condon and Chinyelu plus the addition of Aberdeen be enough to convince Haugh to come back for his senior season? It would certainly make Florida the odds-on favorite to win the NCAA championship next season. Even without Haugh, the Gators are forecast as a top five team. With him and the security that Aberdeen brings to the table Florida looks scary good.

The current Florida roster

Seniors (1): Xaivian Lee (6-4, 185)

NBA (1): Tommy Haugh (6-9, 215, JR)

Portal (2): Olivier Rioux (7-9, 305, RFR); Micah Handlogten (7-1, 260)

Returning (10): Alex Condon (6-11, 236, JR); Rueben Chinyelu (6-11, 265, JR); Urban Klavzar (6-1, 195, JR); AJ Brown (6-5, 210, RJR); Alex Kovatchev (6-5, 195, RSO); Boogie Fland (6-3, 185, SO); Isaiah Brown (6-5, 210, SO); Viktor Mikic (6-11, 260, SO); CJ Ingram (6-7, 210, FR); Alex Lloyd (6-4, 180, FR)

Signed: Jones Lay (7-0, 230)

From the portal: Denzel Aberdeen (6-5, 190, SR, from Kentucky)

THE REST OF THE SEC

Alabama

Seniors: Latrell Wrightsell (6-3, 189); Houston Mallette (6-5, 185); Noah Williamson (7-0, 244)

NBA: Labaron Philon (6-4, 177, SO); Amari Allen (6-7, 205, FR)

Legal issues: Aden Holloway (6-1, 178, JR)

Portal:  Taylor Bol Bowen (6-10, 195, JR); Aiden Sherrell (6-10, 240, SO); Jalil Bethea (6-5, 190, SO)

Returning (5): London Jemison (6-8, 205, FR); Keitenn Bristow (6-8, 190, SO); Davion Hannah (6-6, 190, FR); Preston Murphy (6-1, 175, JR); Collins Onyejiaka (6-11, 265, FR)

Signed (3): Tarris Bouie (6-4, 175); Quayden Samuels (6-6, 200); Jaxson Richardson (6-6, 200)

Arkansas

Seniors: Nick Pringle (6-9, 220); Trevon Brazille (6-9, 215)

NBA: Darius Acuff Jr. (6-3, 190, FR); Meleek Thomas (6-5, 185, FR)

Portal: Karter Knox (6-6, 211, SO); DJ Wagner (6-3, 175, JR); Kaim Rtail (6-7, 205, FR); Elmir Dzafic (7-0, 285, FR)

Returning (5): Maliq Ewin (6-10, 220, JR); Billy Richmond (6-5, 205, SO); Jaden Karuletwa (6-5, 185, SO); Isaiah Sealy (6-7, 200, FR); Paulo Semedo (7-1, 225, FR)

Signed (3): Jordan Smith Jr. (6-2, 180); JaShawn Andrews (6-4, 195); Abdou Toure (6-6, 200)

Auburn

Seniors (2): Keyshawn Hall (6-7, 250); Keyshawn Murphy (6-10, 245)

Portal (4): Filip Jovic (6-8, 225, FR, to UCLA); Kaden Magwood (6-2, 175, FR); Elyjah Freeman (6-8, 185, SO); Abdul Bashir (6-7, 195, JR)

Returning (5): Kevin Overton (6-5, 180, JR);   Tahaad Pettiford (6-1, 175, SO); Emeka Opurum (7-0, 205, SO); Sebastian Williams-Adams (6-8, 230, FR); Simon Walker (6-4, 195, FR)

Signed (2): Caleb Williams (6-5, 195); Narcisse Ngoy (6-11, 220)

Georgia

Seniors (2): Justin Bailey (6-3, 195); Justin Abson (6-9, 235)

Portal (6): Jeremiah Wilkinson (6-1, 185, SO); Dylan James (6-9, 235, JR); Somto Cyril (6-11, 260, SO); Jackson McVey (7-1, 240, FR); Jordan Ross (6-3, 175, JR); Jake Wilkins (6-9, 185, FR, to California)

Returning (4): Blue Cain (6-5, 190, JR); Marcus Millender (5-11, 180, JR); Kanon Catchings (6-9, 190, SO); Kareem Stagg (6-8, 230, FR)

Kentucky

Seniors (1): Otega Oweh (6-5, 210)

NBA (2): Jayden Quaintance (6-9, 225, SO); Malachi Moreno (7-0, 250, FR)

Portal (7): Jaland Lowe (6-2, 170, JR); Brandon Garrison (6-11, 245, JR); Jasper Johnson (6-5, 180, FR); Mouhamed Dioubate (6-7, 215, JR); Denzel Aberdeen (6-5, 190, SR, to FLORIDA); Andrija Jelavic (6-11, 225, FR, to Ohio State); Collin Chandler (6-5, 202, SO, to BYU)

Returning (4): Reece Potter (7-1, 210, JR); Kam Williams (6-8, 190, SO); Trent Noah (6-5, 220, SO); Brayden Hawthorne (6-8, 190, FR)

Signed (1): Mason Williams (6-2, 185)

LSU

Seniors (5): Max Mackinnon (6-5, 205); Marquel Sutton (6-7, 205); Pablo Tamba (6-6, 210); Rashad King (6-6, 198); PJ Carter (6-5, 175)

Portal (8): Dedan Thomas Jr. (6-1, 178, JR, to Houston); Jalen Reed (6-10, 230, SR); Mazi Mosley (6-5, 169, FR); Matt Gilhool (6-11, 213, FR); Ron Zipper (6-5, 209, FR); Marcus Vaughns (6-8, 221, FR, to Arizona State); Mike Nwoko (6-10, 245, JR, to Xavier); Robert Miller III (6-10, 220, JR)

Returning (1):   Jalen Reece (6-0, 185, FR)

Signed (2): Kevin Thomas (6-6, 195); Herly Brutus (6-5, 180)

Mississippi State

Seniors (3): Jayden Epps (6-2, 190); Ja’Borri McGhee (6-0, 200); Quincy Ballard (6-11, 240)

Portal (6): Jamarion Davis-Fleming (6-10, 240, FR); Dellquan Waren (6-1, 160, FR); Sergej Macura (6-9, 220, FR, to UCLA); Amier Ali (6-8, 185, SO); Brandon Walker (6-8, 255, SR); Achor Achor (6-9, 222, SR)

Returning (5): Josh Hubbard (5-10, 185, JR); Gai Chol (6-11, 245, JR); King Grace (6-5, 195, FR); Cameren Paul (6-7, 210, FR); Tee Bartlett (6-11, 290, FR)

Signed (3): Tristan Reed (6-9, 230); Jalyn Collingwood (6-5, 190); Willie Burnett III (6-4, 175)

Missouri

Seniors (5): Mark Mitchell (6-8, 220); Jayden Stone (6-4, 180); Jacob Crews (6-7, 210); Shawn Phillips (7-0, 245); Jevon Porter (6-11, 220)

Portal (3): Anthony Robinson II (6-2, 175, JR); Sebastian Mack (6-3, 195, JR); T.O. Barrett (6-4, 200, SO)

Returning (6): Trent Pierce (6-10, 210, JR); Luke Norweather (6-11, 232, JR); Trent Burns (7-5, 235, SO); Annor Boateng (6-6, 215, SO); Nicholas Randall (6-9, 240, FR); Aaron Rowe (6-2, 155, FR)

Signed (3): Jason Crowe Jr. (6-3, 170); Aidan Chronister (6-7, 180); Toni Bryant (6-9, 215)

Oklahoma

Seniors (6): Nijel Pack (6-0, 180); Tae Davis (6-9, 204); Mohamed Wague (6-10, 225); Jadon Jones (6-5, 190); Kirill Elatontsev (6-11, 240); Jeff Nwankwo (6-6, 220)

Portal (3): Andreas Holst (7-0, 200, FR); Kuol Atak (6-9, 190, FR); Jake Hansen (6-0, 170, FR)

Returning (5): Xzayvier Brown (6-2, 165, JR); Dayton Forsythe (6-2, 187, SO); Derrion Reed (6-8, 220, SO); Kai Rogers (6-10, 247, FR); Alec Blair (6-7, 192, FR)

Signed (1): Gage Mayfield (6-7, 200)

Ole Miss

Seniors (3): AJ Storr (6-6, 200); Malik Dia (6-9, 240); Kezza Giffa (6-2, 165)

Portal (8): Eduardo Klafke (6-5, 190, SO, to Butler); Ilias Kamardine (6-5, 185, JR); Hobert Grayson IV (6-4, 205, SR); Corey Chest (6-8, 210, RSO); Koren Johnson (6-2, 175, RJR); Augusto Cassia (6-8, 220, JR); Tylis Jordan (6-9, 215, FR); Travis Perry (6-1, 188, SO)

Returning (3): James Scott (6-11, 210, JR); Patton Pinkins (6-5, 200, FR); Niko Bundalo (6-10, 215, FR)

Signed (1): Yohance Connor (6-2, 170)

From the portal (1): Roman Siulepa (6-6, 220, FR, from Pittsburgh)

South Carolina

Seniors (5): Meechie Johnson (6-2, 175); Mike Sharavjamts (6-8, 180); Kobe Knox (6-5, 185); Myles Stute (6-7, 215, SR); Nordin Kapic (6-8, 245)

Portal (7): Eli Ellis (6-0, 192, FR); Elijah Strong (6-8, 225, JR); EJ Walker (6-7, 253, FR); Jordan Butler (7-0, 240, JR); Christ Essandoko (7-0, 285, RJR); Abu Yarmah (6-6, 209, FR); Cam Scott (6-6, 170, RFR)

Returning (2): Grant Polk (6-6, 197, FR); Hayden Assemian (6-6, 230, FR)

Signed (1): Marcus Johnson (6-2, 180)

From the portal: Kory Mincy (6-2, 185, JR, from George Mason)

Tennessee

Seniors (3): Ja’Kobi (6-0, 175); Felix Okpara (6-11, 220); Amaree Abram (6-4, 190)

NBA (1): Nate Ament (6-10, 205, FR)

Portal (7): Cade Phillips (6-9, 212, JR); Clarence Massamba (6-5, 192, FR); JP Estrella (6-11, 241, RSO, to Michigan); Bishop Boswell (6-4, 203, SO); Jaylen Carey (6-8, 245, JR); Troy Henderson (6-1, 186, FR); Amari Evans (6-5, 220, FR)

Returning (2): Ethan Burg (6-3, 199, SO); DeWayne Brown II (6-8, 251, FR)

From the portal (1): Tyler Lundblade (6-5, 195, SR, from Belmont); Dai Dai Ames (6-1, 185, JR, from California)

Texas

Seniors (4): Tramon Mark (6-5, 190); Jordan Pope (6-2, 165); Chendall Weaver (6-3, 164); Lassina Traore (6-9, 215)

NBA (1): Dailyn Swain (6-7, 200, JR)

Portal (3): Nic Codie (6-8, 200, SO); Simeon Wilcher (6-4, 180, JR); Camden Heide (6-7, 205, JR);

Returning (5): Matas Vokietaitis (7-0, 245, SO); Declan Duru Jr. (6-8, 235, FR); Anthon McDermott (6-4, 200, FR); John Clark (6-8, 200, FR); Lewis Obiorah (7-0, 250, FR)

Signed (4): Austin Goosby (6-5, 186); Bo Ogden (6-5, 195); Joe Sterling (6-4, 180); Coleman Elkins (6-10, 240)

From the portal: Isaiah Johnson (6-1, 170, FR, from Colorado)

Texas A&M

Seniors (7): Rashaun Agee (6-7, 210); Rylan Griffen (6-5, 180); Marcus Hill (6-4, 185); Zach Clemente (6-10, 225); Jacari Lane (6-0, 178); Federiko Federiko (6-11, 220); Ali Abdou Dibba (6-5, 185)

Portal (3): Josh Holloway (6-1, 178, JR); Pop Isaacs (6-2, 170); Ruben Dominguez (6-6, 213, FR, to Xavier)

Returning (4): McKenzie Mgbako (6-8, 217, JR); Jamie Vinson (6-11, 225, SO); Chris McDermott (6-7, 225, SO); Jeremiah Green (6-3, 189, FR)

Signed: Josh Irving (6-10, 200)

From the portal: PJ Hagerty (6-3, 192, JR, from Kansas State)

Vanderbilt

Seniors (6): Duke Miles (6-2, 175); Tyler Nickel (6-7, 200); AK Okereke (6-7, 220); Devin McGlockton (6-7, 220); Jalen Washington (6-10, 225); Mason Nicholson (6-10, 280)

Portal (5): Frankie Collins (6-1, 185, SR); Jaylon Dean-Vines (6-4, 181, FR); Tyler Harris (6-8, 190, JR); George Kimble III (6-2, 184, SO); Mike James (6-5, 198, RSR)

Returning (4): Tyler Tanner (6-0, 170, SO); Chandler Bing (6-5, 211, FR); Jayden Leverett (6-11, 245, FR); Jaylon Dean-Vines (6-4, 181, FR)

Signed: Ethan Mgbako (6-6, 215); Anthony Brown (6-1, 160); Jackson Sheffield (6-9, 240)