Guard Denzel Aberdeen got a head start on his two freshmen classmates by reporting for the Summer "B" semester.
Freshmen Settle In
Friday, August 26, 2022 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
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By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Yet another high-energy, spirited practice was in the books Wednesday, with Todd Golden's first Florida team huddled at mid-court for his customary closing remarks. This practice, though, was different from those of the previous eight weeks.
This one involved all members of the team.
It was the first day of the 2022-23 fall semester and that meant a pair of freshman, guard Riley Kugel and newly signed forward Aleks Szymczyk, were not only in the house but officially in the mix. And immediately after the huddle broke, the two rookies joined Gators associate head coaches Carlin Hartman and Korey McCray for some extra hands-on, half-court tutoring as part of the staff's charge to get the new guys groomed into the UF system and nomenclature.
The two coaches went to work, setting each player in position, walking them to spots and explaining some of the basics, starting with the standard pick-and-roll concept that will be so crucial to what the Gators want to do in the half court.
"It's our job as coaches to help them get up to speed on the court, and once we get to practicing they have to do some catching and up and figuring out on their own," Hartman said. "So when they get out here, whether it's before or after practice, we'll go over a summary of the reads and vocabulary we like to use when we're making our moves and executing our actions."
That process has been both ongoing and scattered ever since Golden arrived last March and first began working with players on the floor in April. All told, there are seven new players on the '22-23 roster, which is probably in the national median now that the transfer portal has erupted as the primary means for rebuilding. Of those seven, three are freshmen, with Kugel and Szymczyk (pronounced "SHIM-chick") joined by guard Denzel Aberdeen, who showed up for the Summer "B" semester and thus has an eight-week head start on his classmates.
"I have a little more knowledge on what to do," Aberdeen said. "I can put myself in the right spots and even put other people in the right spots. I'm just more settled in. I appreciate how much my teammates have helped me over the summer, so now I can help these other guys like my teammates helped me."
For Aberdeen and Kugel, there was no getting-to-know-you process. The two were teammates at Orlando Dr. Phillips High and won a Class 7A state championship there during their junior seasons and were runners-up as seniors.
The 6-foot-5, 180-pound Aberdeen signed with UF and the previous coaching staff last fall. He met with Golden early in the transition and never wavered on his decision.
"I've always wanted to be a Gator," he said. "I didn't decide to come here just because of the coach. It was more the school and the network and the overall program."
Kugel's story is different. He committed to Mississippi State, but the Bulldogs also underwent a coaching change and the 6-5, 185-pound reopened his recruitment. Kugel, armed with crazy athleticism, was rated a top-50 national prospect, so his late addition was a windfall of sorts, especially for a team with some depth and experience on the perimeter.
And then there's Szymczyk. Though a native of Poland, Szymczyk grew up in Frankfort, Germany, but more importantly to the Gators he grew to be 6-10 and 235 pounds. After getting feelers from mostly mid-majors — UNC-Ashville, Montana State, Stetson, among them — he appeared on the UF radar, with Golden tapping into the overseas contacts he worked so well during his time recruiting internationally at San Francisco.
"It's hard to get recruited in Europe," said Szymczyk, a project, to be sure, but also with a good frame to grow and a nice looking outside jumper to work with. "You need some good connections."
Now, for all three of the Florida freshmen, comes the hard part. They'll have to find their niche, whatever it may be, on a team expected to be led by a pair of fifth-year seniors in the low post and point guard spots. A veteran team, to be sure.
"We have a deep enough, experienced enough roster that we can slow-cook them and get them up to speed at their leisure," Hartman said. "It's up to us to do that, but also up to them to meet us in the middle. They have to learn it and grasp it, so that once we come out here it becomes easier for them."
Szymczyk has Castleton, a two-time All-Southeastern Conference performer, and 6-11, 300-pound senior Jason Jitoboh to contend with, but also learn from. On the perimeter, where Aberdeen and Kugel will play, the Gators have two fifth-years (St. Bonaventure transfer and No. 1 point guard Kyle Lofton and Myreon Jones), one fourth-year (CJ Felder), two third-years (Niels Lane and Virginia Military transfer point man Trey Bonham), and another three true but experienced sophomores (Kowacie Reeves, plus transfers Will Richard, from Belmont, and Alex Fudge, by way of LSU), who figure to have major roles.
Freshman classman Denzel Aberdeen (left) and Riley Kugel were also Orlando Dr. Phillips High teammates and helped lead the school to a Class 7A state title in 2021. Aberdeen averaged 14.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists in '22, while Kugel, who decommitted from Mississippi State to sign with the Gators, scored 16.5 points to go with 4.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists.
No team plays 13 guys. That's just reality. Every Gator understands that, so then it becomes a matter of adaptation and performance. Plus, stuff happens over the course of a season that can necessitate baptism by fire. Better be ready.
"My goal is whatever can get the team to win games. Whatever they want me to do or need me to do, I'll do it," said Kugel, who flashed some of that athleticism in his first couple workouts. "My personal goals, winning as a team is most important. You want good chemistry and if we're winning we'll all be in sync."
But that doesn't mean any of the freshman is expected to defer. No one in the coaches offices want that, either.
"We're really excited about all three of them and the reason we brought them here is because we think they're going to be a great part of our program now, but also in the future," Golden said. "All these guys, we feel, can be great players at Florida. How soon? We don't know that. We have a veteran team and it's going to be hard for them to break in with a huge role in Year 1, but they're all really talented and I'm not going to say never. We're going to give each of them as fair a shot as anyone on this team."
Two practices in, that's all they can ask.
"I probably have to keep them in a check a little bit," Aberdeen said of his personal expectations. "I want to win games and be the best I can be on and off the court, so it's all on me to do everything I can do to put myself in position. Do that, and my role — whatever that is — will fall in place."
