The University of Florida is the happiest college basketball fanbase on Earth. After winning a national championship, Florida picked up one of the best point guard transfers in the country, Xavian Lee, to replace their All-American point guard Walter Clayton Jr. They had some returning talent and only a few holes on their entire roster. However, it hasn’t been a kind Friday for the Gators. Joining fellow role player Sam Alexis, Denzel Aberdeen entered the transfer portal. While his numbers may not have been incredible, he was playing behind some of the best backcourt talent in the country. What are Florida’s next steps to replace their lost talent? Will there be too much turnover to compete for another national championship? Let’s dive in.
NEWS: Florida guard Denzel Aberdeen plans to enter the transfer portal, source told @On3sports.
The 6-5 junior scored 22 points on South Carolina and 20 points on Mississippi State earlier this season. Played an underrated role in the Gators winning a National Championship.… pic.twitter.com/gdkZ2JH282
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) April 18, 2025
Florida Loses Two Key Returning Players to Transfer Portal
Why Denzel Aberdeen and Sam Alexis Entered the Transfer Portal
The two transferring players can’t argue that they hoped for more team success. While Alexis is a loss, Aberdeen played a much larger role for the Gators. Alexis only played in 25 games for the Gators, including one minute combined in the last four NCAA Tournament games. He averaged 4.7 points per game. He left because of playing time and will likely be on a smaller roster. However, he was expected to play a larger role for the Gators next season. Aberdeen is a different story. Aberdeen averaged 7.7 points per game and played every single game, averaging 19.8 minutes. He scored seven points in the national championship win.
With so many losses in the backcourt, he was expected to fill in heavily next year. Many projected that he would start alongside Lee next year. However, Aberdeen decided that entering the transfer portal was a better option. He may not get an upgrade in team prestige, but he clearly cares more about playing time in his final seasons. It’s hard to leave a winning team, so Aberdeen felt strongly about leaving the Gators.
What’s Next for Florida?
Aberdeen entering the transfer portal adds yet another hole in the roster. Clayton, Alijah Martin, Will Richard, and Alex Condon won’t be on the roster next season. Aberdeen and Alexis accounted for two of the top four scoring returners for next season. Thomas Haugh and Rueben Chinyelu are the only two returning role players for next season. What appeared to be a small rebuild in the transfer portal has now expanded to a full-blown rebuild. They now need wings and centers to help rebuild their roster.
Chad Baker-Mazara is transferring from Auburn if he is granted another year of eligibility. If you can’t beat the enemy, join them. Florida will likely reach out to the wing in the coming weeks. The problem lies in the center position. Chinyelu will be a strong center, but Florida either has to find a center to give them minutes or trust that Olivier Rioux can step up in the SEC. He is 7-foot-9, but that doesn’t mean he has the athleticism and strength to compete against the best players in the country.
Florida will need to find recruits in the next week. Most of the top transfers have already committed, so there aren’t any options. Denzel Aberdeen’s surprise decision to enter the transfer portal will help an unknowing team, but it serves as another blow to Florida’s 2025-26 roster. Todd Golden, you have work to do.
