Alabama Guard Aden Holloway Arrested On Felony Drug Charge Days Before Ncaa Tournament

Aden Holloway, nan second-leading scorer for nan Alabama men’s hoops team, was arrested Monday connected a felony supplier complaint and whitethorn not beryllium disposable for nan Crimson Tide during March Madness, pending nan university’s investigation into nan matter.

Alabama coach Nate Oats said that aft he told his players astir nan situation, nan squad went retired and had “a really bully practice” 4 days up of its first-round NCAA tourney crippled against Hofstra.

“Aden’s 1 of our guys, and everybody wants to wrap their arms astir [him],” Oats said Monday during an quality connected nan Crimson Tide Sports Network. “Everybody makes immoderate mistakes successful life, but [the players] besides understand we’ve sewage to move connected ... and nan team’s sewage to spell play Friday.

“So I thought we did a bully occupation of that this morning, benignant of addressing nan situation, what we presently knew astatine nan time, and sewage our guys focused connected practice.”

Holloway’s apprehension came aft nan West Alabama Narcotics Task Force searched a residence adjacent field and “recovered much than a lb of marijuana, paraphernalia and cash,” nan Tuscaloosa Police Department said.

The 21-year-old subordinate is facing a first-degree complaint of marijuana possession, not for individual use, which is simply a Class C felony and carries a punishment of up to 10 years successful situation and a maximum good of $15,000.

Police said Holloway besides will beryllium charged pinch nonaccomplishment to affix a taxation stamp, different felony. Holloway was taken to jailhouse soon earlier 10 a.m. and was released little than an hr later connected a $5,000 bond.

Alabama said successful a connection Monday: “The University is alert of nan allegations and is moving to stitchery much information. The student has been removed from field pending further investigation by nan UA Office of Student Conduct.”

Oats said players request to beryllium held accountable if they neglect to meet nan standards group by nan program.

“So, you know, we had to suspend [Holloway] pending nan investigation by nan UA agency of student conduct,” Oats said. “And we’re surely disappointed successful his behavior. But that being said, we still emotion him. He’s still our guy. We’re helping him get nan thief he needs, and we’re going to proceed to thief him immoderate measurement we can.”

Meanwhile, nan Crimson Tide, nan No. 4 seed successful nan Midwest Region, continues to hole to look 13th-seeded Hofstra connected Friday without a subordinate who averages 16.8 points a game. Sophomore defender Labaron Philon Jr. leads nan squad pinch 21.7 points a game, and sixth-year elder Latrell Wrightsell Jr. is averaging 12.8 points.

“I did show our team, this squad much than immoderate squad I’ve ever coached is amended equipped to grip a business for illustration this,” Oats said. “I don’t cognize really galore games we went into wherever we had a crippled clip decision. Guy goes, warms up, and we sewage to determine whether he’s going to play aliases not an hr earlier nan game. ... We’ve won plentifulness of games pinch guys not available, truthful our guys will beryllium fresh to spell against Hofstra.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.