Denzel Aberdeen by the numbers: The former Gator shined in five SEC starts

DrewFranklinKSR

denzel-aberdeen-florida-to-kentucky — Florida guard Denzel Aberdeen (11) celebrates a three pointer against Tennessee during the first half of the Southeastern Conference tournament championship at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, March 16, 2025.

Denzel Aberdeen is a Cat. The Orlando native won a high school state championship in Florida and the 2025 NCAA championship as a Florida Gator. Now, he’s heading to Lexington to help Kentucky chase a title after spending three years in Gainesville. Aberdeen’s move to the Bluegrass surprised some in his home state because he was set to move into a starting role for the defending champs next year. But Mark Pope’s offer was too much to turn down, so the 6-foot-5 combo guard, considered a defensive stopper, made the cross-conference transfer to join a crowded roster with The Greatest Tradition In College Basketball™.

Here are the numbers behind Kentucky‘s new transfer portal addition to its backcourt:

83 career games as a Gator

Jan 25, 2025; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden talks with Florida Gators guard Denzel Aberdeen (11) during a timeout against the Georgia Bulldogs during the second half at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Before leaving Gainesville, Aberdeen played in 83 games as a Gator from 2022 to 2025. This past season, he played in the fourth-most games of anyone on the team, appearing in 34 games in his junior season, including five starts in the middle of the SEC schedule.

Stepped up in a starting role

When the injury bug struck Florida’s backcourt during SEC play, Aberdeen stepped into the starting lineup and really shined with the increased role. In his first career start, filling in for Walter Clayton Jr., Aberdeen played a career-high 35 minutes without a turnover, scoring 13 points in a win over Vanderbilt. Four days later, he started and scored 10 points in Florida’s upset of No. 1 Auburn at Auburn.

The following week, Aberdeen started at No. 22 Mississippi State and against South Carolina, two more Florida wins. He scored career highs in each game with 20 and 22 points.

Aberdeen averaged 14.4 points per game in five SEC starts, shooting 41.4% from 3 (12-for-29) with a 3.3 assist-to-turnover ratio, proving he just needed an opportunity. He was stuck behind a veteran backcourt when the Gators were at full strength.

Denzel Aberdeen averaged 14.4 points in five SEC starts for Florida, shooting 41.4% from 3 on 29 attempts with a 3.3 assist-to-turnover ratio. pic.twitter.com/IBwuE2D2le
— Drew Franklin (@DrewFranklinKSR) April 21, 2025

Two 20-point games in 2024-25

The starting assignments against Mississippi State and South Carolina deserve their own headline. First, his career-high 20 points came on 7-of-12 shooting from the field, including three 3-pointers, in Starkville. He had 14 points in the second half, beginning with a 3 that sparked a 17-0 run out of the break. Aberdeen scored seven of the 17 in Florida’s second-half run against the Bulldogs.

Feb 15, 2025; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators guard Denzel Aberdeen (11) makes a three-point basket over South Carolina Gamecocks guard Arden Conyers (21) during the second half at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Back home against South Carolina, Aberdeen set a new career high with 22 points, hitting five of seven 3-pointers (71.4%) with three assists and no turnovers.

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Double-digits in the Sweet 16 win

Aberdeen’s best game in Florida’s NCAA Tournament run came in the Sweet 16, when his 12 points off the bench helped the Gators turn a two-point halftime lead into a 16-point win over Maryland. Aberdeen went 5-of-7 from the field against the Terps in 19 minutes.

Hero of the 2024 SEC semifinals comeback

As a sophomore, Aberdeen helped keep Florida alive in the 2024 SEC Tournament, scoring a team-high 20 points off the bench in the come-from-behind win against Texas A&M. A&M led the Gators by 18 points, only to allow Florida to come back and win the semifinal game in Nashville.

Aberdeen, who averaged 2.5 points and 8.6 minutes through the season’s first 34 games, came off the bench to hit four of five 3s with four steals in 23 minutes in the comeback.

Set a season-high against the No. 1 Vols

After losing to Kentucky in Lexington, Florida turned around and beat the undefeated and No. 1-ranked Tennessee Vols by 30 points in Gainesville. Aberdeen set a new season-high in points with 16 off the bench to outscore everyone in orange. He was two points shy of Alijah Martin’s game-high 18 in the shocking outcome.

Jan 7, 2025; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators guard Denzel Aberdeen (11) attempts to dunk over Tennessee Volunteers forward Igor Milicic Jr. (7) during the second half at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

45% from 3 on open catch-and-shoots

Aberdeen shot 35% from 3 in his sophomore and junior seasons. However, a closer examination of his shooting percentage reveals a better picture for his role in Mark Pope’s offense at Kentucky. J. Kyle Mann noted that Aberdeen shot 45% on open catch-and-shoot 3-pointers last season, so he may shoot better in his new Kentucky role than his career percentage suggests about his past performance.