After making history as the youngest head coach to win the big dance, Todd Golden has certainly earned his moment in the spotlight. But in college basketball, as they say, good things don’t last long. The Gators’ faithful felt the walls come crashing down when both Walter Clayton Jr. and Alex Condon decided to declare for the NBA draft. While it wasn’t entirely unexpected, it still leaves Florida with a lot of work to do in the transfer portal if they want to mount another serious championship run next March. And, as the saying goes–when it rains, it pours. The Gators faithful had even tougher news waiting for them.

Since taking the reins in 2022, Todd Golden has turned Florida into a national powerhouse, with the 2025 NCAA title as proof. At just 39, he’s the youngest coach to pull it off, building a squad that thrived on fast breaks and sharp shooting. But now, with key players bolting, he’s facing the harsh reality of keeping a championship program together in the wild world of transfers and big-money NIL deals.

Rising senior guard Denzel Aberdeen, who was projected to become a full-time starter next season, has decided to enter the transfer portal. This was something no one saw coming!

Aberdeen was a spark plug in Florida’s title run, especially in the championship game, where he played 18 clutch minutes, hitting a huge three and snagging a steal that flipped the momentum. In his five starts this season, he averaged a slick 14.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.6 assists, shooting 48% from the field. Losing a guy with his versatility and heart is a gut punch for Golden.

Perhaps one of the reasons why the 6-foot-5 junior will look for a new home is because Florida just added Princeton’s Xaivian Lee in the portal. Lee became one of our highest-ranked players to commit to a new school for next season and will get plenty of opportunities in head coach Todd Golden’s offense. But Lee is seen as the replacement for Walter Clayton Jr not Aberdeen.

So what’s the real reason behind Aberdeen’s surprise exit? Well, Jeff Goodman has the scoop and honestly, it’s not all that shocking. “Denzel Aberdeen’s departure had little to do with the addition of Princeton transfer PG Xaivian Lee and was far more about finances/NIL.”  Once again, the transfer portal turns into a tool for players looking to boost their NIL value and programs end up paying the price. Aberdeen was once the lone recruit who stuck with Florida after Todd Golden first took over the program. A triumphant end to his Gators career!

But for Todd Golden, the misery keeps piling on. Aberdeen isn’t the only Gator heading for the transfer portal. He’s got company. Let’s take a look at who else is on the move after bringing home the title.

Bad news keep piling on for Todd Golden

It is pretty much known that the Gators are parting ways with All-American Walter Clayton Jr, and standout guards Alijah Martin and Will Richard. All three, alongside Alex Condon, are gearing up to take their talents to the professional level next season.

Together, they accounted for over 50% of Florida’s points last season, leaving massive holes in the lineup. Here’s a quick look at what Florida’s losing:

Aberdeen has decided to enter the portal and will be joined by other depth pieces. Rising senior forward Sam Alexis, who missed much of the back half of the season with an injury, is also heading out. And joining him is Kajus Kublickas, the Lithuanian guard who suited up for just six games in his last season at Florida.

One of the biggest drawbacks of building a roster designed to win in March? Half the team either heads to the NBA or gets poached by other schools offering better NIL deals. That’s just the new reality of college basketball. While it’s a win for the players, programs are left scrambling year after year with little to no continuity. Todd Golden’s not the first coach to feel the heat and he definitely won’t be the last. Still, this is a defining moment. If Golden can reload with impact players and keep Florida in the title hunt, he’ll prove he’s more than a one-hit wonder. But with the locker room shaking up like this, the road to another trophy just got a whole lot tougher.