It was only weeks ago, Todd Golden basked in the glory of a championship. As orange and blue covered the Alamodome, he had become the youngest coach since 1983 to win it all. “What we just did, nobody can ever take that away from us,” he’d revel. And he better had. Because, while the feat is going to stay with them forever, the feel-good spotlight isn’t. Programs are gearing up to run it back. So are the players. And Golden? He is, too, but first, he has some disappointment to deal with.

The Gators’ faithful felt the walls closing in when it was revealed that Walter Clayton Jr., Alex Condon, Alijah Martin, and Will Richard were all turning pro. It wasn’t entirely unexpected, but it still stings. Now, Florida faces a huge challenge. The team will need to hit the transfer portal hard if they hope to mount another serious championship run next March. And just when things couldn’t get worse, boom! Another key player enters the portal. When it rains, it pours.

Rising senior guard Denzel Aberdeen, who was set to be a full-time starter next season, has left everyone stunned by entering the transfer portal. This move? Completely unexpected! No one saw it coming, and honestly, why would they? Hailing from Orlando, Florida, Aberdeen was the only recruit who stayed when Coach Mike White left and Todd Golden took over. This year, the 6’5” junior guard made his mark in the SEC, averaging 19.7 minutes and 7.7 points per game for the Gators.

When asked about stepping up after Clayton, Richard, and Martin– Aberdeen shared his thoughts right after the championship win: “They set a great example for me, stuff I’ve got to take in, stuff I’ve got to write down and just cherish for next year, stuff I’ve got to work on,” he said. “But, man, I’m just glad we got to win right now.”

Confusion, disbelief, and shock flooded social media when the news broke. Some fans couldn’t wrap their heads around it, while others were downright frustrated, as things go from bad to worse for Todd Golden.

Fans shocked as Todd Golden and the Florida Gators face another huge blow

Naturally, fans were left scratching their heads. They just couldn’t understand the reasoning behind the move of leaving Todd Golden and co after winning a championship. “Interesting choice considering he would have had an expanded role this season. Good luck to him, I guess,” one fan commented. Another joined in with, “WTF is he doing?? We just won a Natty, and he’s gonna have a bigger role next year. Terrible move.”

With Clayton, Richard, and Martin all gone, everyone expected Aberdeen to take charge of the Gators’ backcourt next season. And he looked ready for it. In his five starts this year, he put up a smooth 14.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game–while shooting an impressive 48% from the field.

“Can’t lie, this stings. Aberdeen was a huge part of us making it to the chip,” said one fan, clearly lost for words. And he wasn’t alone. Another echoed the same feeling: “This makes no sense man wtf.”

And really, how would it? Aberdeen was primed for success in Florida with Golden. Remember back in February when Walter Clayton Jr. was out injured? Aberdeen stepped in and made sure no one missed Clayton Jr. During that four-game stretch, he averaged 31.3 minutes and 16.3 points per game. This run convinced everyone that he was the future! But that wasn’t to be! Why was he leaving then?

One fan thinks it’s because of the arrival of Xavian Lee. “Wonder if this has to do with Xavian Lee transferring in to Florida?” Well, while Xavian Lee was definitely a major coup for the Gators, this still leaves them with just three guards in their current roster if you consider freshman Urban Klavzar. But according to Jeff Goodman, the real reason why Denzel is leaving is because of NIL. Yes, you read that right! Another player is leaving their program completely stranded to test their value in the market! Can you even blame him for doing that?

“I mean come on man, was 100% going to start unless we get another transfer. Makes no sense…” said one fan, clearly puzzled. And honestly, he might be onto something. Could someone else be coming in to fill the gap in Florida’s backcourt? Well, that might just be the case. PJ Haggerty–one of the hottest names in the transfer portal right now is definitely a name to watch out for if you’re a Gators fan.

He ranked third nationally in scoring with 21.7 points per game, while also putting up 5.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists. No doubt, he could complement the incoming Lee perfectly in the backcourt. Whether that pairing happens or not remains to be seen. But one thing’s crystal clear–if Todd Golden wants to chase another historic season, he’s got to hit the transfer portal hard. Real hard.