- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Alabama Preparing to Play NCAA Tournament Without Star Guard Aden Holloway After Felony Drug Arrest
Holloway, the Crimson Tide's second-leading scorer, was arrested on a felony marijuana possession charge earlier this week.
Mar. 17, 2026 at 9:20pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The Alabama men's basketball team will be without star player Aden Holloway as they open the NCAA Tournament against Hofstra on Friday. Holloway, a 21-year-old sophomore guard, was arrested on Monday on a first-degree felony charge of marijuana possession with intent to distribute and failure to affix a tax stamp. Head coach Nate Oats said the team is 'preparing to play without' Holloway, who is second on the team in scoring with an average of 16.8 points per game.
Why it matters
Holloway's arrest and suspension is a significant blow to Alabama's chances in the NCAA Tournament, as he is one of the team's top players. The incident also raises questions about player conduct and accountability within the program.
The details
During a search of a residence near Alabama's campus, law enforcement recovered more than a pound of marijuana, paraphernalia, and cash. If found guilty, Holloway could face up to 10 years in prison and a $15,000 fine for the possession charge alone. Oats said the team is 'helping him get the help that he needs' but that they are 'preparing to play without him this weekend'.
- Holloway was arrested on Monday, March 17, 2026.
- Alabama opens its NCAA Tournament play against Hofstra on Friday, March 21, 2026.
The players
Aden Holloway
A 21-year-old sophomore guard for the Alabama men's basketball team, who was arrested on a felony drug charge earlier this week.
Nate Oats
The head coach of the Alabama men's basketball team, who said the team is 'preparing to play without' Holloway in the NCAA Tournament.
What they’re saying
“We got standards in our program and we've got ways we've held our guys accountable. And we try to keep everything in-house, obviously some of the situations you can't, and this is one of those.”
— Nate Oats, Head Coach, Alabama Men's Basketball
“We're certainly disappointed in his behavior. But that being said, we still love him, he's still our guy. We're helping him get the help that he needs and we're going to continue to help him whatever way we can. But as far as our team goes, I thought we had a great practice, we're preparing to play without him this weekend.”
— Nate Oats, Head Coach, Alabama Men's Basketball
What’s next
The judge will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Aden Holloway to be released on bail pending the investigation and trial.
The takeaway
This incident highlights the challenges college basketball programs face in maintaining player discipline and accountability, especially around issues of substance abuse. Alabama must now prepare for the NCAA Tournament without one of its top players, underscoring the importance of establishing a strong team culture and holding all players to high standards of conduct.
