Denzel Aberdeen recaps 'surreal' championship year -- and push for a second one at Kentucky

His departure from Florida coming off a national championship run with the Gators was a controversial one, Todd Golden certainly not thrilled about how things ended with Denzel Aberdeen. What’s done is done, though, and the newest Kentucky Wildcat can only control the controllables moving forward, using his prior experiences as fuel for what’s to come in Lexington.

The senior guard was the sixth man in Gainesville during the SEC rival’s memorable title journey. Being a part of that — the Final Four, cutting down the nets with confetti falling, invited to the White House, all of it — is something he’ll appreciate for the rest of his life.

He’ll also forever appreciate the opportunity to make the intraconference move to Kentucky and compete for another championship.

“It’s been surreal. The past couple of months, just reaching one of my goals in life, winning the national championship, it’s been nothing but amazing,” Aberdeen said at SEC Tipoff ’26. “And then playing for another great, historic college, I’m just very blessed to be here. I thank God each and every day that I open my eyes, and it’s just amazing that I’m in the position I am right now.

“I just keep praying every day, just hoping for more chances like this.”

He’s in a unique spot now, Florida entering the season picked to win the SEC as the defending champs, Kentucky coming in right behind at No. 2. It’ll be a battle between his old and new friends all season long in the national polls and conference standings — along with at least two head-to-head matchups during league play, maybe more in the postseason.

Aberdeen has his fancy championship ring and got to show it off to his teammates in Lexington, but that shine is already starting to fade. His obsession with adding another to his collection is only ramping up with the season here, his last in college basketball.

There’s a new assignment to take care of, and he’s got a big role in completing it.

“Just knowing that every year is a new year, and just knowing what’s passed has passed. Obviously, winning the national championship last year was great for me, but now I’ve got a new goal in mind, and that’s to win another one again,” Aberdeen continued. “It’s just coming in each and every day, being focused, staying hungry, competing with my teammates, knowing that I have a new goal in my mind each and every year I just set for myself. 

“I wake up and ask God about it, and just each and every day I attack it.”

How is Aberdeen helping personally? Ask his SEC Preseason Player of the Year teammate, Otega Oweh. He singled out the Florida transfer as the biggest surprise of the offseason, joining freshman center Malachi Moreno for the superlative.

The shooting is improving while all of the other traits that had him on the floor for the last possession of the national championship game remain.

“Denzel, he’s been shooting the leather off the ball,” Oweh said. “And then his playmaking, he brings that toughness and his competitive spirit to the game. … It’s been great (going against him). I feel like in our practices, it’s really hard to score on him — although I still get a bucket (laughs). But I feel like it really prepares you for the games because it makes it easier. 

“We’re guarding so hard, so physical, that when we get to the game, it’s gonna be way easier. … Going against those guys, it’s getting you way better, getting you more prepared for when the lights are on. I’m just grateful that we have this group that can get you better every single day.”

Can Denzel Aberdeen close out his career winning back-to-back championships for two different SEC teams? Kentucky would certainly love to make that history with No. 1 leading the way.