Denzel Aberdeen can play for Florida during the 2026-27 college basketball season after a Florida circuit court granted his request for a temporary stay against the NCAA. The ruling gives the guard permission to compete while the dispute over his eligibility continues.
Aberdeen returned to Florida in April and enrolled at the school after spending his first three college seasons there. He had completed four seasons of college eligibility, but his limited freshman participation included only 41 minutes across 12 games. His legal filing sought an additional season on the grounds that he should qualify for the NCAA’s 5-for-5 eligibility policy.
That policy allows athletes to compete during as many as five seasons over a five-year eligibility period. Aberdeen, a member of the 2022 recruiting class, was not automatically included under the policy. His attorney, Jesse Panuccio, argued that preventing Aberdeen from playing was unfair because he had competed against older players who received additional eligibility connected to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The NCAA is expected to challenge the injunction, and the dispute could continue through additional court proceedings. Other athletes from the 2022 class have received similar orders, following a 10th Circuit Court of Appeals decision that allowed an earlier ruling from Colorado to provide those athletes with another season.
Florida coach Todd Golden has supported Aberdeen’s effort to return. “We’re pleased with today’s ruling, and we’re especially happy for Denzel,” Golden said in a statement.
