Denzel Aberdeen, Sam Alexis enter transfer portal: Florida basketball reserves set to leave Gators

Basketball

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Image Credit: UAA

A massive hole has been created on the Florida Gators basketball roster fresh off the program’s first national championship in 18 years. With its three starting guards already departing due to graduation, Florida has learned that junior guard Denzel Aberdeen has decided to enter the transfer portal.

Aberdeen, who averaged 7.7 points in 19.7 minutes while shooting 42% from the field, 35% from 3-point range and 71% from the line, was expected to start in the Gators backcourt alongside four-star Princeton transfer Xaivian Lee, who committed to the program on Wednesday. He was particularly clutch in the Sweet 16 game against Maryland (12 points in 19 minutes) and national championship (7 points, 3 of 4 from the line).

This was a decision made over NIL and not position or playing time, according to Jeff Goodman. Aberdeen did not release a statement on his departure.

Florida will now be tasked with replacing the four guards who played the most minutes last season. That means freshman guard Urban Klavžar will be the top returning backcourt player averaging 3.2 points in 9.9 minutes per game.

Junior forward Sam Alexis, who transferred in from Chattanooga last season, decided to enter the transfer portal Friday. Alexis averaged 4.7 points and 3.5 rebounds in 11.9 minutes per game as a key reserve, but he played only 1 minute after being sidelined with an ankle injury on Feb. 11. Though his return from injury was slow, Alexis was removed from the rotation amid the return of junior center Micah Handlogten and head coach Todd Golden shortening the bench given the gravity of the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

“My journey at Florida hasn’t been easy, I’ve faced a lot of adversity but every challenge has helped me grow into a better basketball player and better man,” he said. “I want to thank my teammates and the coaching staff for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to compete at the highest level. Winning a national championship here will always be one of the greatest moments of my life.”

The Gators should be strong enough in the frontcourt next season to mitigate the loss with Handlogten and sophomore forward Thomas Haugh set to return. Sophomores F Alex Condon and C Rueben Chinyelu have declared for the 2025 NBA Draft, but each has done so while retaining collegiate eligibility, and there is a legitimate chance one or both return to Florida for the 2025-26 campaign.