Kentucky Adjusts Focus Following Latest Commitment

With the addition of Florida transfer guard Denzel Aberdeen, Kentucky basketball’s 2025-26 roster continues to take shape — but the commitment comes at the expense of other potential targets. The Wildcats are reportedly out of the mix for Kansas transfer Rylan Griffen and Bosnian guard Harun Zrno, according to KSR’s Jacob Polacheck.

Griffen, who was scheduled to visit Lexington on Tuesday, canceled that trip following Aberdeen’s commitment. The 6-foot-6 wing played last season at Kansas after spending two years at Alabama and had been viewed as a possible plug-and-play option for Mark Pope’s new-look roster. Similarly, Zrno, who had also drawn interest from Kentucky’s staff, is no longer being pursued as the backcourt begins to fill out.

Aberdeen gives Kentucky a versatile, physical guard with size and SEC experience. The 6-foot-5 junior averaged 7.7 points per game for the Gators last season while shooting 35% from three. His commitment pushes the Wildcats’ scholarship count to 13 — the NCAA limit — although one spot remains somewhat in limbo with junior guard Otega Oweh testing the NBA Draft process.

Oweh’s final decision could determine whether Pope and his staff make one final addition to the roster. If Oweh remains in the draft, Kentucky may have room to pursue another high-level transfer. If he returns, the 2025-26 roster might already be locked in.

That said, Pope and Kentucky are still staying in touch with Cal transfer Andrej Stojaković. The former McDonald’s All-American and five-star recruit is one of the most sought-after names in the portal and continues to weigh his options. According to 247Sports’ Travis Branham, Stojaković remains in “steady contact” with Kentucky, while also drawing strong interest from North Carolina, Florida, LSU, UConn, USC, Clemson, Cincinnati, and Illinois — where he’s currently visiting.

The NBA Draft Combine, scheduled for May 11–18, will be a pivotal week for Oweh and the program’s next steps. If Oweh pulls out of the draft and returns to Lexington, Pope may shift his focus to internal development. But if the door reopens for one final scholarship spot, Kentucky could make a hard push for Stojaković to round out what is already shaping up to be a deep and balanced roster.

Whether Kentucky is done adding or has one more move left, the Wildcats are clearly entering the final stages of portal season, where they can soon just focus on recruiting players in the class of 2026 and have another great class under Pope.