Denzel Aberdeen is coming home. The former Florida guard announced Friday, April 10, 2026, that he plans to re-enroll at the University of Florida for the 2026-27 season, pending an NCAA eligibility waiver.
Aberdeen, a 6-foot-5 guard from Orlando, spent his first three college seasons with the Gators and helped Florida win the 2025 national championship. After the title run, he entered the transfer portal and played the 2025-26 season at Kentucky.
With the Wildcats, Aberdeen started 35 of 36 games and averaged career highs of 13.5 points, 3.4 assists, and 2.5 rebounds while shooting 36.3% from three. He posted 27 double-figure scoring games and led Kentucky in scoring eight times. Florida faced Aberdeen three times this season, all Gator wins. He had 19 points and four assists in his return to Gainesville on Feb. 22, 15 points, five rebounds and four assists at Kentucky, and 17 points in the SEC Tournament lost.
Aberdeen left Florida after the 2025 title, with reports citing NIL negotiations and a desire for a bigger role after playing behind Walter Clayton Jr., Will Richard, and Alijah Martin. He averaged 7.7 points in 19.8 minutes during Florida’s championship season, including a 12-point outing in the Sweet 16 win over Maryland.
“Thankful for the opportunity to finish my academic journey back home at the place where it started. Go Gators!” Aberdeen posted on Instagram Friday.
Aberdeen re-entered the transfer portal on April 7, 2026, after one year at Kentucky. Because he played only 12 games for 41 minutes as a freshman at Florida, he is seeking a waiver for a fifth season of eligibility.
If the NCAA approves the waiver, Aberdeen would rejoin Todd Golden’s roster with a season of SEC starting experience. Golden said after Aberdeen left for Kentucky, “Losing Denzel Aberdeen was tough but we wish him nothing but the best. I’m confident we can find somebody to take that spot”. Aberdeen would add to a backcourt that already includes Princeton transfer Xaivian Lee.
