Denzel Aberdeeeeeeen!

Comment on SEC Now about staying with your team in an era where you could go to another team that might offer more playing time or NIL. Aberdeen is an old school example of a loyal player to the team. We need more Denzel’s today!!!

 

He sure has worked hard to improve his game

 

Yup.

He could have easily “sold high” after his tourney run last year as some team could have promised him starting role. Don’t think anyone would have faulted him either since we pretty much recruited over him with Martin and for all he knew his minutes might still be limited. But he really improved so much that he’s right there with those guys now. Love that he seems very humble and all about winning. Obviously it always helps when a team actually is winning.

 

With Aberdeen and Haugh playing like this and now Handlogten back, we have 8 legitimate starters plus Alexis, Urban and Brown can give us a few minutes here and there - we are a DEEP team

 

Still going to need Condo playing back at a high level to make a tourney run

 

His "hot hand" was on fire for a bit.

 

That's my boy!

Playing lights out right now...he's only going to get better!

 

Hard to believe he played second fiddle to Kugel in high school. Complete opposite work ethics.

And the right one, doing it the right way, comes out on top.

 

Great point. So many guys in his situation would have up and gone. Now he's the leader for the starting PG role next season.

 

Kugel didn’t actually break out until his senior year. Pretty sure Aberdeen was the lead guard before that.

 

Just an unbelievable job of development by the staff. He was always a plus defender who could guard multiple positions, but he has improved as a ball handler and shooter who really knows what he does well (attack the rim in transition and off ball screens, spot up off left wing and corner). He is becoming a genuinely complete, two way player. In the last 4 games, he has averaged 16 ppg with only 3 total turnovers, and is shooting 11-24 from the arc and 23-47 overall.

 

He’s got Casey Prather vibes. Uber talented, incredible energy. And now after a couple of years, he is harnessing it and playing great. I love these kind of Gator stories especially in an era when everyone is seemingly looking for their next move. Probably my favorite player on the team because of his story.

“Wes Chandler was Percy Harvin before Percy Harvin was born.”

 

Grandma Aberdeen? Sorry, we didn't know. Welcome to Gator Country! LOL!

 

Prather is a terrific example. Very different players, ofc (comp I usually use for Aberdeen is Justin Hamilton, with a little Wilbekin), but in terms of development, Prather is right on: elite athlete with limited offensive game who just found what he is good at and excelled at it.

 

Giving Aberdeen more minutes allows Clayton a well deserved break from being the primary ball handler most of the time. 55 minutes combined seems about perfect

 

Similar trajectory as well, first couple years looking lost at times, became a defensive stalwart, showing big improvements as a junior, and Casey was a whole different player as a senior. I'm excited for Denz next year. He's been fantastic as a starter with Martin out.

 

great call.
Prather is among my all time favorites. His trajectory and development is what I love and miss about college basketball.

 

One thing that Aberdeen also has is length. A 6'5 PG with hops, ability to finish in traffic is huge. He has the length of a wing player at the 1.