“It Was Pretty Much a No-Brainer”: Denzel Aberdeen Says 3-Hour Call With Mark Pope Made Kentucky Feel Like Home
For most of his life, Denzel Aberdeen was a Florida guy through and through born in Orlando, raised in the Sunshine State, and a proud member of the Florida Gators for three seasons. After helping lead the Gators to a national championship just months ago, few would’ve expected his next move to involve packing up and heading to the heart of Big Blue Nation.
But that’s exactly what happened and it all came down to a phone call.
A three-hour call on Easter Sunday with Kentucky head coach Mark Pope was all it took for Aberdeen to realize he was ready to trade orange and blue for Kentucky blue. No campus visit. No in-person meeting. Just Pope, a vision, and a gut feeling that this was the place he belonged.
“When they (Kentucky) called, I was like, ‘Man, I got to come here and play for Coach Pope,’ who is obviously another national champion,” Aberdeen told reporters. “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.”
A Champ Looking for a New Challenge
Coming off a breakout junior year at Florida where he played a pivotal sixth-man role, averaging 7.7 points in nearly 20 minutes per game Aberdeen could’ve easily returned for a senior season in Gainesville. But something shifted after the championship run. His vision no longer aligned with the Gators’ direction, and it was clear: it was time to move on.
He entered the portal, fielded interest from 3 to 5 major programs including Texas Tech and Indiana but it was Kentucky that made him stop and think: this is where I want to finish my story.
The Pope Pitch
Coach Mark Pope didn’t treat Aberdeen like just another transfer. He saw something special and he made sure Aberdeen knew it.
“Our phone call lasted about three hours, to be honest,” Aberdeen recalled. “It was a lot of just getting to know me, getting to know the school, getting to know the university, getting to know him, how their play style was, a lot of film. And then once I seen that, I was like, man, like, you look like a great guy to play for. So I had to come in.”
It wasn’t a sales pitch it was a connection. A basketball mind meeting another, aligned in goals, strategy, and ambition. Pope showed Aberdeen where he’d fit in the offense, what role he’d play, and how he could help lead Kentucky back to national glory.
Within 20 minutes of hanging up the phone, Aberdeen talked it over with his father. By the next day Monday after Easter he was locked in with Kentucky. No visit necessary.
“Things happen in life, but it’s all in God’s plan,” Aberdeen said. “So just being here, being at Kentucky, being at this next school I’m at, I’m just happy to be here.”
A New Beginning in the Bluegrass
Now, as he prepares for his final season of college basketball, Aberdeen brings with him a championship pedigree, veteran experience, and a relentless hunger to prove himself on an even bigger stage.
And he’s already embracing the challenge of playing in Lexington, where expectations are always sky-high and the lights never dim.
Mark Pope sees Aberdeen as a key rotational piece for Kentucky’s reloaded roster a tough, experienced combo guard who can defend, create, and deliver in pressure moments. Aberdeen’s maturity, leadership, and selfless approach could make him one of the most valuable under-the-radar pickups of the 2025 transfer cycle.
In many ways, he’s the perfect fit for a new era of Kentucky basketball under Pope: smart, unselfish, and built for the moment.
And to think it all started with one conversation.
The Final Chapter Begins
Denzel Aberdeen heads into the 2025–26 season with a new jersey, a new fanbase, and a new opportunity to end his college career on top again. This time, though, it’s Kentucky that will reap the rewards.
So as fans file into Rupp Arena this fall, remember: sometimes, a three-hour phone call can change everything.
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