Todd Golden: Basketball and money at Kentucky 'too good for (Denzel Aberdeen) to turn down'

It’s not every day you see the sixth man of a national championship team with remaining eligibility decide to transfer. That same player then choosing to make the move to a conference rival and fellow title contender is unheard of — but that’s the reality in 2025 with the portal and NIL. Kentucky was thrilled to take advantage of the unique circumstances when Denzel Aberdeen unexpectedly became available, moving quickly to earn his commitment after talks fell through between the standout guard and Florida.

Pope and the Wildcats were motivated to get it across the finish line, whatever it took. And the feeling was mutual.

“Our phone call lasted about three hours, to be honest. … When (Kentucky) called, I was like ‘Man, I got to come here and play for Coach Pope,’ who is obviously another national champion,” the Gator-turned-Wildcat said in June. “And just the school itself, the people here, the atmosphere is crazy… When they called it was pretty much a no-brainer for me. I was like, yeah, I got to do it. I’m ready.”

What did it take to close the deal, exactly? At the time, Aberdeen’s father, Ian, told KSR+, “We really wanted to stay here at Florida, but negotiations went south a little bit,” and left it at that.

Now, Todd Golden is sharing the Gators’ side of the story — and you don’t have to read too far between the lines to figure out why Aberdeen is no longer in Gainesville. It’s nothing personal, to be clear, as he actually has nothing but good things to say about the senior guard as a person and player.

“It’s going to be different. I think Denzel is a great young man, and we’re grateful for the time that he spent in our program,” Golden told Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports. “He obviously helped us win a national championship last year, and took advantage of the new world of college basketball and free agency.”

Ah, there it is. The new world of college basketball and free agency.

What does Golden mean by that? Well, Aberdeen saw his value at an all-time high as a title-winning supersub and cashed out with a blue-blood basketball school. If the winningest tradition in the sport wants to not only expand your role, but also give you a massive pay raise along the way, you’d be crazy to pass on the opportunity, right?

His now-former coach doesn’t blame him.

“He had a program like Kentucky that was able to come in here and take advantage, give him an opportunity — both from a basketball standpoint and financially — that was probably a little too good for him to turn down,” Golden said.

That was the path Aberdeen chose, and now, he has to look those Gator fans in the face on Valentine’s Day when Kentucky travels to Gainesville to take on Florida on Feb. 14.

Odds are good he’ll get booed. Odds are also good that the fierce competitor in him that helped Golden win his first championship will also be ready to give his old team his best shot.

“He’s going to have to come back into the O’Dome and get received by our fans. Our staff will be ready to compete against Denzel, and I think Denzel will be ready to compete against us,” Golden said. “He’s a great young man and a good player, but it’s a great example of what college basketball is like in 2025. We had to play against Riley Kugel last year at Mississippi State after he was a Gator for a few years, so it’s something that you’re starting to see more and more.”

Golden isn’t thrilled about the situation, but he gets it. And above all else, he’ll have his guys prepared when that ball is tipped.

That’s something he guarantees.

“Again, Denzel is a great, great guy, and we’re not necessarily happy to see him in Kentucky blue, but we’re going to be ready to compete against him,” he said. “I can promise you that.”

Todd Golden loves Denzel Aberdeen.

But Florida's staff will be ready for both him and Kentucky this season in the SEC.

🎧 https://t.co/c9JLel3odd (Apple)
🎧 https://t.co/EsZxIkcHSA (Spotify) pic.twitter.com/xS8gzfrsva

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) August 25, 2025