College Basketball Star Arrested Days Before Team Plays In NCAA Tournament

The arrest comes four days before the Tide plays its first game in the NCAA tournament.

The 23-9 Tide earned a #4 seed in the tournament and will play #13 seed Hofstra on Friday.

Alabama star Aden Holloway has been arrested on a felony drug charge, four days before his team is set to play in the NCAA tournament.

Holloway, the team's second leading scorer, has been charged with first-degree possession of marijuana and failure to affix a tax stamp.…

— ESPN (@espn) March 16, 2026

ESPN shared further:

Tuscaloosa County police spokesperson Stephanie Taylor said Holloway was arrested Monday morning and transported to the county jail after agents with the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force searched a residence near Alabama’s campus and “recovered more than a pound of marijuana, paraphernalia and cash.”

Holloway has been charged with first-degree possession of marijuana and failure to affix a tax stamp. His bond was set at $5,000, but it’s unclear from jail records whether he is still being held.

Per Alabama law, the possession charge can carry a penalty of up to 10 years in jail and a fine of $15,000.

Holloway, a 6-foot-1 junior guard, scored 18 points last Friday in his team’s loss to Ole Miss in the opening round of the SEC tournament. He has made 44% of his 3-point attempts this season for an Alabama squad that has the No. 3 offense in the country and earned the 4-seed in the Midwest Region.

“Holloway’s availability for the Tide’s 1st round NCAA Tournament game vs. Hofstra on Friday in unknown,” Yahoo Sports stated.

Alabama junior guard Aden Holloway was allegedly arrested Monday after authorities found over a pound of marijuana during a narcotics search at a Tuscaloosa residence, per multiple reports.

Holloway's availability for the Tide's 1st round NCAA Tournament game vs. Hofstra on… pic.twitter.com/rAVJ3bUlcC

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) March 16, 2026

CBS Sports has more:

A former Auburn transfer, Holloway has spent the last two seasons at Alabama, but this is his first as an every-game starter for Oats’ team. He’s averaging career-highs across several statistical categories, including a 43.8% success rate from beyond the arc. When Alabama is playing at its best offensively, the combination of Labaron Philon Jr. and Holloway in the backcourt is one of college basketball’s most lethal combinations.

Alabama hasn’t yet commented on Holloway’s arrest or any disciplinary action that will be taken ahead of this week’s NCAA Tournament opener.