Mark Pope isn’t afraid to shake things up.
And this summer, he’s already pulling one of the boldest moves of his young Kentucky tenure:
shifting a key player to a new position — and it might be a stroke of genius.
According to sources inside practice, Denzel Aberdeen, traditionally known as a combo guard, has been getting extended looks at point guard — as the team’s floor general.
> “He’s not just bringing it up the court,” one observer said.
“He’s commanding the offense.”
The decision raised eyebrows at first. After all, Aberdeen has always thrived off the ball — using his speed and athleticism to attack gaps and play downhill. But in practice, Pope is giving him the keys. And so far?
He’s thriving.
Aberdeen is showing poise, vision in the pick-and-roll, and a developing ability to set the pace for Kentucky’s high-octane attack. What’s most surprising? He’s not just filling in — he’s leading.
> “He’s talking more, directing traffic, calling switches — it’s a different version of Denzel,” one assistant noted.
This positional switch also frees up Kentucky’s scoring wings to do what they do best:
Otega Oweh has been slashing without needing to initiate.
Trent Noah can be a sniper off the ball.
Jayden Quintance benefits from cleaner entry passes from a poised point guard.
The move also helps Kentucky’s bench rotations. By using Aberdeen at the 1, Pope can stagger lineups and get more creators on the floor at once.
> “It’s giving us options,” Pope reportedly told staff.
“That’s the goal — versatility.”
And while nothing is set in stone, the experiment is gaining traction fast.
Aberdeen has always had the tools. Now he’s showing the maturity, vision, and control to be more than a slasher — he might be the engine.
If this sticks, Kentucky’s backcourt just got a lot deeper… and a lot more dangerous.
