It’s not every day that a player picks a new school sight unseen — but that’s exactly what Denzel Aberdeen did after one unforgettable phone call.
After helping Florida win a national championship just months ago, Aberdeen stunned the college basketball world by entering the transfer portal. Born and raised in Orlando, the Gators were home — until Kentucky came calling.
And by “calling,” we mean literally. A single, three-hour call with new Kentucky head coach Mark Pope flipped everything.
“When they (Kentucky) called, I was like, ‘Man, I got to come here and play for Coach Pope,’” Aberdeen revealed. “The school, the people, the atmosphere… it was crazy. It was a no-brainer.”
Texas Tech and Indiana tried to make their pitch, but Pope did what they couldn’t — build trust, break down film, and show Aberdeen exactly where he fits in the Big Blue puzzle.
“It was a lot of just getting to know me, getting to know the school, the university, how they play, a lot of film,” Aberdeen said. “And once I saw that, I was like, man, you look like a great guy to play for.”
He didn’t even wait 20 minutes after hanging up. A quick conversation with his dad sealed the deal. He committed without ever stepping foot on campus — the call happened Easter Sunday, and by Monday, Aberdeen was officially a Wildcat.
And make no mistake — this is more than just a new school. It’s a new mission.
“Things happen in life, but it’s all in God’s plan,” he said. “Just being here at Kentucky… I’m just happy to be here.
