In Jeff Borzello’s latest offering, the Florida Gators<\/a> remain atop the standings despite questions surrounding guard Denzel Aberdeen, who transferred back to Gainesville after a season with the Kentucky Wildcats<\/a>. The problem is, he is officially out of collegiate eligibility and is petitioning the NCAA to grant him an extra year.<\/p>\n “This one comes with an asterisk, as Aberdeen will need to be granted an additional year of eligibility by the NCAA,” Borzello begins. “There’s no clear argument for a redshirt year, so his path to playing for the Gators again is unclear. But coach Todd Golden didn’t need much in the way of newcomers, as he brought back four starters and his sixth man from a team that won the SEC and earned a 1-seed. International forwards Arturas Butajevas and Domen Petrovic would be the other candidates.”<\/p>\n The Orlando, Florida, native played in 83 games at Florida over three seasons, totaling 426 points, 101 rebounds, 80 assists and 31 steals, and was the first man off the bench during the program’s 2025 national title run. That year, the 6-foot-5-inch, 190-pound guard averaged 7.7 points and 1.7 rebounds in 39 appearances while making all five of his career starts.<\/p>\n Even if Aberdeen does not receive his waiver, Golden still has a formidable roster, returning the nation’s best frontcourt of Alex Condon, Thomas Haugh and Defensive Player of the Year<\/a> Rueben Chinyelu fully intact, while also retaining the backcourt duo of Boogie Fland and Urban Klavz\u030car \u2014 the latter of whom was the SEC Sixth-Man of the Year<\/a> last season.<\/p>\n Need a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!<\/a><\/p>\n The 2026-27 campaign begins on Nov. 2, when the Miami Hurricanes take on the Gators at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida.<\/p>\n Florida basketball’s projected starting lineupBoogie Fland (11.7 PPG)Urban Klavzar (9.7 PPG)Thomas Haugh (17.1 PPG)Alex Condon (14.9 PPG)Rueben Chinyelu (11.2 PPG)Men’s NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankingsFlorida Gators<\/a>Duke Blue DevilsIllinois Fighting IlliniUConn HuskiesMichigan Wolverines<\/a>Tennessee VolunteersTexas Longhorns<\/a>St. John’s Red StormMichigan State SpartansArizona Wildcats<\/a>Arkansas RazorbacksUSC TrojansLouisville CardinalsVirginia CavaliersAlabama Crimson TideHouston CougarsKentucky WildcatsMiami HurricanesGonzaga BulldogsVanderbilt CommodoresMissouri TigersNebraska CornhuskersKansas JayhawksIowa State CyclonesNorth Carolina Tar Heels Follow us\u00a0@GatorsWire<\/a>\u00a0on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky<\/a>, and like our page on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>\u00a0to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.<\/p>\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1783273514_131_82604684007-20250322-t-011042-z-779806020-mt-1-usatoday-25734617-rtrmadp-3-ncaabasketballncaatournam.webp\")