The timing couldn’t be worse. Alabama’s second-leading scorer, Aden Holloway, arrested Monday morning in Tuscaloosa, has thrown the Crimson Tide’s March Madness run into chaos. The 21-year-old junior guard faces two felony charges after a drug task force search uncovered more than a pound of marijuana at a residence near campus.
Holloway was booked into Tuscaloosa County Jail just before 10 a.m. and released less than an hour later on $5,000 bond. By Monday afternoon, the university confirmed he’d been removed from campus. By evening, reports confirmed he’s off the team entirely for Friday’s first-round game against Hofstra.
Agents with the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force executed a search warrant at a residence in the 400 block of 30th Avenue East. Inside, they found more than a pound of marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and cash. Police spokesperson Stephanie Taylor confirmed the recovery.
Holloway now faces first-degree possession of marijuana and failure to affix a tax stamp. Both are felonies in Alabama. First-degree possession alone carries up to 10 years in prison and a $15,000 fine. The tax stamp charge relates to failing to pay state taxes on illegal drugs, a separate felony under Alabama law.
This hurts. Holloway has been Alabama’s second-leading scorer all season, averaging 16.8 points per game. More importantly, he leads the team in three-point shooting at 43.8% on nearly six attempts per game. In SEC play, he’d become Nate Oats’ most reliable perimeter weapon.
The junior started 27 of 28 games this season after transferring from Auburn following the 2023-24 campaign. At Auburn, he struggled, 7.3 points per game on 30% shooting. In Alabama, he thrived. He publicly criticized former coach Bruce Pearl after leaving, saying he was “sold a dream” at Auburn. Now his dream season has crumbled four days before tip-off.
Oats addressed the situation during his weekly radio show, visibly disappointed but measured.
“We’ve got standards in our program and ways we’ve held our guys accountable,” Oats said. “We found out about what was going on this morning, and we had to suspend him pending the investigation by the UA office of student conduct”.
“We’re certainly disappointed in his behavior. That being said, we still love him. He’s still our guy and we’re helping him get the help that he needs and we’re going to continue to help him in whatever way we can”.
On the basketball side, Oats made clear the team moves forward. “We’re preparing to play without him this weekend”.
The Crimson Tide earned a No. 4 seed in the Midwest Region and face No. 13 Hofstra on Friday in Tampa. Without Holloway, Alabama drops to nine available scholarship players. Oats said the team has started 13 different lineups this season, the most in his seven years, and will have another one Friday.
Likely replacements include Houston Mallette or Taylor Bol Bowen. Neither brings Holloway’s scoring punch or three-point gravity.
“If we’re going to lose a guy, losing him in the backcourt is the place where we got the most depth,” Oats said. “I told the guys that this team, more than any I’ve coached, is equipped to handle a situation like this. We’ve won plenty of games with guys not available, so they’ll be ready”.
Holloway left Auburn because the system didn’t fit. He found his groove at Alabama, made All-SEC Third Team on March 9, and helped lead the Tide to a 23-9 record. Last season, with Holloway as sixth man, Alabama reached the Elite Eight. This season, he’d become the starter, the leader, the sharpshooter.
Now he’s off campus, off the team, and watching March Madness from somewhere far from Tampa. The investigation continues. His college career hangs in the balance. And Alabama plays on without him.
