Florida fans might be realizing they let the wrong guy go as Denzel Aberdeen scores a career high 26 in the loss to Louisville.
When Denzel Aberdeen hit the Transfer Portal, most assumed Florida would find a way to keep him, he was fresh off helping the Gators to a national title and wanted a deserved NIL bump. The program balked and chose to let him explore his options. Then, Aberdeen left.
Now he’s thriving here in Lexington, averaging 16.0 points per game on 53.1% shooting and 37.5% from three. Meanwhile, his replacements, Arkansas Transfer Boogie Fland and Princeton transfer Xaivian Lee, have struggled to find rhythm and look kind of disjointed right now.
Aberdeen vs. Florida's replacements: The glaring stats
- Fland: 12.3 PPG, 44.4% FG, 16.7% 3PT
- Lee: 11.0 PPG, 26.8% FG, 20.7% 3PT
The gap in efficiency is glaring. Aberdeen looks like a polished veteran, while Florida’s backcourt looks like it’s still searching for chemistry. Keep in mind it is early on in the season, and things will be different by the end of the year, but it looks like the Gators definitely lost this one. To quote a famous football coach, they should have been willing to "pony up."
My conclusion from the Kentucky-Louisville game is that Denzel Aberdeen was worth whatever Kentucky paid him and Mikel Brown Jr. is probably going to do that to everybody because he’s just that good. He’s a monster.
— Myron Medcalf (@MedcalfByESPN) November 12, 2025
If you scroll social media, Gator fans have noticed, and they’re not thrilled. The decision not to match NIL value for a proven contributor is already aging poorly, and it’s a reminder of how quickly portal management can make or break a season.
Really wishing Florida had paid Denzel Aberdeen to stay this season. Hopefully Lee turns it around.
— BaldGuyRandy (@BaldGuyRandy) November 12, 2025
Uh oh.
— InAllKindsOfWeather.com (@AllKindsWeather) November 12, 2025
…we might’ve made a mistake letting him walk. https://t.co/eEUWIZY8Nc
He is right, they should not have let him go. But BBN is glad they did.
Now for the Florida Gators, Thomas Haugh is the best player on this team and it's not even close. Boogie Fland, Xavian Lee, and Urban Klavazar is not the same guard play as last season. Believe it or not we are going to miss Denzel Aberdeen big time this season.
— Glenn Kaplan (@glennkaplan13) November 4, 2025
Why did Aberdeen have to leave Florida? We would be so much better with him.
— Daniel “Jacoby” Jones CFA l (@jacoby_cfa) November 12, 2025
Aberdeen is a crazy talent how the hell did Florida let this kid go?
— #talkball (@blackgodwayne) November 12, 2025
That talent will now be on full display in Lexington all season long if you all want to see it up close Florida fans.
Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time he enjoys downtime with his family and Premier League soccer. You can find him on X here. Micah 7:7. #UptheAlbion