Alabama junior guard Aden Holloway was removed from the team after being arrested Monday on felony drug charges. He is expected to miss the NCAA tournament while the university investigates the matter.
Details of Aden Holloway’s drug arrest and what he’s charged with
A spokesperson for the Tuscaloosa Police Department said that agents with the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force searched Holloway’s residence Monday morning and found more than a pound of marijuana, paraphernalia and cash, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Holloway, 21, was charged with first-degree possession of marijuana and failure to affix a tax stamp. He was transported to the Tuscaloosa County and released on a bond set at $5,000.
First-degree possession is a Class C felony in the state of Alabama. If convicted, Holloway could face up to 10 years in jail and a fine of $15,000, per ESPN.
The team is prepared to play without Holloway as the Crimson Tide faces Hofstra in the first round on Friday.
Alabama’s coach, Nate Oats, and the university released statements
Alabama coach Nate Oats spoke out about Holloway, his suspension and how the team plans to support him during this time.
“We’ve got standards in our program,” Oats said on a radio show Monday night, per AL.com, according to Yahoo! Sports. “We’ve got ways we’ve held our guys accountable. We try to keep everything in-house. Obviously, some of the situations you can’t, this is one of those.”
“We had to suspend him pending the investigation by the UA office of student conduct. We’re disappointed in his behavior. With that said, we still love him. He’s still our guy. We’re going to get him the help that he needs, and we’re going to continue to help him whatever way we can,” he added.
Late Monday afternoon, the University of Alabama released a statement regarding Holloway’s arrest and his removal from campus.
“The University is aware of the allegations and is working to gather more information. The student has been removed from campus pending further investigation by the UA Office of Student Conduct,” the statement reads, per CBS Sports.
Halloway transferred from Auburn and played the last two seasons with the Crimson Tide. However, this year is the first time he has become an every-game starter with the team.
He maintained a high-scoring average in several statistical categories, including an average of 16.8 points a game and a 43.8% success rate from beyond the arc, according to CBS Sports and Patch.com.