Freshman guards Riley Kugel and Denzel Aberdeen came together to the University of Florida during the offseason to experience collegiate basketball at the Hugh Hathcock Basketball Complex for the very first time, running drills side-by-side with one another. However, this isn’t the first time they have played on the same court before.
Kugel and Aberdeen have known each other since the second grade and have gone on to play together for the Dr.Phillips High School varsity team in Orlando, Florida, and in AAU ball for Each One Teach One as teammates. Both helped bring Dr. Phillips its first state championship, winning the 2021 7A state championship game with the duo combining for 40 points.
“It’s amazing how I’ve known him for so long and now we’re at this point in the same college,” Aberdeen said. “It’s honestly a blessing to be playing with him again.”
The duo so far in practices have made strides in their basketball IQ under the leadership of Gators head coach Todd Golden. Golden, a first-year head coach with the program, recruited both Kugel and Aberdeen to Florida after taking the reins from previous head coach of 14 years Mike White.
The pitch was strong by Golden to bring the two to Florida. Especially flipping Kugel, a four-star recruit out of high school who originally committed to Mississippi State in Nov.10, 2021, to UF in May. So far for Kugel, his time at Florida has turned exactly what he expected to see when he committed to UF.
“Young staff, everybody’s in the gym together, everybody’s working, everybody’s energetic, excited every day, there’s no off days where everybody’s sluggish,” Kugel said. “Everybody wants to get at it every day.”
The in-state guard has been running with the first team during scrimmages at practice. His great size at six-foot-five is used to his advantage with his high-level of experience to create shots for his teammates on the court. His playmaking on the court, included with a consistent shot behind the perimeter, will be an immediate impact for UF this season.
Aberdeen, a versatile combo guard with a high-IQ, isn’t afraid of the crucial moments in games. Even taking on bigs straight into a heavily contested paint to force in a slam at the basket, or a foul in scrimmages at practice. No matter the stage, Aberdeen looks poised to perform with no hesitation to the moment.
Despite both freshman impressing their coaches on the practice court, the two guards are still learning to compete on the collegiate basketball level after four years playing high school. However, having a teammate does aid in the transition.
“It helped a lot because knowing one of your teammates is already coming into college, you know what he does, you know how he plays,” Aberdeen said. “So it helps me like being able to do the things on the court. Like you know what to do, give him the ball when he needs to, and it’s just amazing to have.”
The fast pace has been an immediate acknowledgement from both players. A whole different game then what they experienced playing at Dr.Phillips.
“I would say the pace is way more faster,” Kugel said. “In high school, it’s easier to control the tempo and to run everything at your own pace. Now it’s a little more sped up, so you have to adjust and develop to a faster game, but I feel like I’m getting there.”
As the two continue to prepare for the season that arrives on Nov. 7 against the Stony Brook Seawolves, the duo will usher in a new wave of Florida basketball and continue their journey in their basketball careers. Once again, as teammates.