Denzel Aberdeen’s college future is uncertain after the NCAA approved a new five-year, age-based eligibility model on Tuesday.
In this new “five-for-five” model, student-athletes will have five years of eligibility if they enroll no later than in the academic year after their 19th birthday. The model eliminates the need for redshirts and waivers, among other issues.
So, how does this affect Aberdeen’s eligibility?
Is Denzel Aberdeen eligible to play for Todd Golden?
Aberdeen just finished his fourth year of college, exhausting his eligibility. In April, he entered the transfer portal and joined Todd Golden’s Florida Gators after spending a season at Kentucky. However, Aberdeen made just 12 appearances during his freshman season at Florida. According to On 3, he is set to apply for a waiver, hoping to retroactively redshirt his freshman year and receive another year of eligibility.
However, the NCAA has said it will not grant waivers to players who have exhausted their eligibility.
“Under the age-based eligibility model, waivers will not be available, including clock extensions and waivers previously granted for hardships, seasons of competition and delayeed enrollment.”
Aberdeen spent three years with the Gators and averaged 5.1 points, 1.2 rebounds and 1.0 assists. He joined the Wildcats last year and played in 36 games, averaging 13.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists.
On Tuesday, Gators coach Todd Golden explained why he decided to bring Aberdeen back to Florida.
“Listen, we missed him last year, and he missed us,” Golden said. “And I think it was one of those things where we’re constantly evolving in this new world, trying to sort out through the rev shares, through the NILs, and it’s not always going to be a perfect discussion. And we each kind of went our separate ways last year, and that’s the nature of this business right now.”
On3’s Joe Tipton provides an update on Denzel Abderdeen’s case
On Friday, On3’s Joe Tipton shared an update on Denzel Aberdeen’s eligibility battle. He reported that the guard is expected to meet with attorneys to file a waiver for another year of eligibility.
“Florida’s Todd Golden told @On3 that Denzel Abderdeen is expected to meet with his legal team next week to begin the waiver process as he seeks another year of eligiblity,” Tipton wrote.
Golden had earlier said he expects the NCAA to grant Aberdeen an extra year because of his unique situation.
“This isn’t a 27-year-old trying to play his eighth year in college at his sixth different school. This is a 22-year-old within his fifth-year clock coming back to get his degree,” Golden said. “And I think it would be a really weird stance to try to fight him from playing.”
Last season, Todd Golden and the Gators made March Madness as the SEC regular season champions. However, they were eliminated by Iowa in the second round.
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