Denzel Aberdeen wants the BBN to know he's never going to lack energy

Kentucky senior guard Denzel Aberdeen will bring plenty to the table this coming season.

The Florida transfer, who helped the Gators win a national title just a couple of months ago, has been heralded nationally as a high-level perimeter defender. Early into offseason workouts and practices, his new Kentucky teammates have praised his outside shooting and ball handling. A recent workout picture showed him jumping into the air with an outstanding vertical leap, his hand nearly touching the top of the backboard.

But all of that is possible because of his mindset as someone who doesn’t take plays off.

“I think I’m a big energy-booster,” Aberdeen said this week on BBN Tonight. “Whether we’re up or down, I’m always in there to make sure we keep the lead or make sure we come back and take the lead. And as far as defensively, I’m always trying to guard the best guys, always trying to stop the other opponent from scoring as much as I can.

“I think, just my energy is a big part of my game that I want people to know about me. I’m gonna bring a lot of it this year.”

Aberdeen should have plenty of energy to spend this season, too. Surrounded by talented guards, depth in the backcourt should rarely be an issue for Mark Pope‘s second Kentucky team. The 20-minute-per-game range is a good guess as to what he’ll average in 2025-26, whether that’s as a starter or one of the first guys off the bench. Pope has emphasised conditioning so far over the last couple of weeks, which Aberdeen said is “very tiring,” but has helped everyone push each other just a bit more.

It’s still very early in the offseason, but Aberdeen is clearly enjoying his Kentucky experience so far.

“It’s been pretty amazing,” he said. “I’ve only been here two weeks, but I feel like I’ve been here a whole year. Just gelling with the guys and playing with them, whether its off the court on the court, playing video games or competing in practice, stuff like that, it’s been pretty good. And Lexington is pretty nice so far.”

Check out the entire interview with Aberdeen and BBN Tonight below. Aberdeen also talked about not dunking until he was a senior in high school (which makes his vertical even more impressive), Otega Oweh talking trash about Kentucky beating Florida last season, why becoming a Wildcat was a “no-brainer”, and much more.