By KEITH TAYLOR, Kentucky Today

LEXINGTON, Ky. (KT) -- Denzel Aberdeen was being counted on as national champion Florida's starting point guard next season. Instead, the senior guard will be part of Kentucky's backcourt next year.

Aberdeen committed to the Wildcats on Monday, two weeks after the Gators captured the national title. Aberdeen, a 6-foot-5, 190-pound guard, averaged 7.7 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game last season and made five starts. In those five contests, Aberdeen averaged 16.2 points per game.

He scored 22 points in a win over South Carolina and was instrumental off the bench in an 87-71 win over Maryland in the Sweet Sixteen. He scored 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the floor.

"We come in with great energy," Aberdeen said at the time of the Gators' reserves. "That's what we try to do every game. We try to defend. Whether it's on defense or offense, we just try to get a push on the edge because then they got a little tired in the second half.

"We kind of used our depth to our advantage. And we pushed the pace on defense and got out in transition. And just everybody being ready, whoever's name is called, I think that's what we did."

Florida coach Todd Golden said Aberdeen was a big difference-maker in the contest at the time.

"He was in there when we kind of iced, kind of from the 10-minute to 4. He gave us a great stretch, hit a big 3. I think that extended it back to 15 when they were starting to get baskets. He just played with great confidence tonight. He was fearless. He attacked for all 20 minutes he was out there. He gave us a big lift."

Aberdeen said the Gators' championship run was "amazing" and said the experience was a "blessing" but he is looking forward to joining the Wildcats next season.

"Thank you, Jesus," Aberdeen said on a social media post. "Let's do it."

Aberdeen is rated at No. 59 nationally in the 247Sports transfer rankings and Kentucky now ranks No. 4 in the country in the team transfer ratings on that website.

Kentucky has added former Arizona State forward Jayden Quaintance, former Alabama forward Mouhamed Dioubate, former Tulane guard Kam Williams, and former Pittsburgh point guard Jaland Lowe through the transfer portal. Leading scorer Otega Oweh has declared for the NBA Draft, but is expected to return next season. Post player Brandon Garrison, guards Collin Chandler and Travis Perry and forward Trent Noah have announced their intentions to return.

UK will also be bringing in five-star guard Jasper Johnson, McDonald's All-American post player Malachi Moreno and Croatian big man Andrija Jelavic as first-year players.

Kentucky reached the Sweet Sixteen in coach Mark Pope's inaugural season with the Cats. Several national outlets already have Kentucky ranked in the preseason top 10 for next season.