Aden Holloway's Arrest Rocks Alabama Just Days Before NCAA Tournament

The Alabama Crimson Tide suffered a big blow following reports that their No. 2 scorer, Aden Holloway, was arrested on Monday, 16 March. The 21-year-old has been removed from campus because of the incident, meaning he won't be around when Alabama faces Hofstra Pride on Friday, 20 March.

According to reports, Holloway was arrested on a felony charge on Monday. This was after agents, along with the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force, conducted a search at a residence near the Alabama campus.

According to Tuscaloosa County police spokesperson Stephanie Taylor, they recovered more than a pound of marijuana, paraphernalia and cash. Because of the incident, Holloway has been suspended indefinitely, the Associated Press reported.

What Holloway is Charged Of

Holloway is facing first-degree possession of marijuana – not for personal use – charges, classified as a Class C felony. Other charges the 21-year-old is facing include another felony, failure to affix a stamp. His bond was set at $5,000 (£3,747) and he was released Monday morning.

If found guilty, Holloway faces serious jail time. Under Alabama law, the possession charge alone carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $15,000 (£11,241) according to an ESPN report.

'We're certainly disappointed in his behaviour. 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 help him in any way that we can,' Coach Nate Oats said on a radio show.

Big Blow for Crimson Tide

With Holloway out for the foreseeable future, the Crimson Tide will be losing big in terms of scoring punch. Holloway is considered one of the best three-point shooters in the country, making nearly 44% of his six attempts per contest.

Before the arrest, the North Carolina native scored 20 or more points in 10 games so far this season. That included a huge 26-point output in Alabama's game against Kentucky in January.

In his last game with the Crimson Tide, Holloway tallied 18 points in the team's loss to Ole Miss. It was the opening round of the SEC tournament.

Although the team relies heavily on Labaron Philon Jr, Oats will have to skim through his lineup for added points. Several names could step up for Aden Holloway, namely Houston Mallette, Taylor Bol Bowen or even Jalil Bethea.

Despite the odds, Oats is hardly fretting. In fact, he has expressed confidence on the players he has to man the backcourt.

'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,' Oats said.

Holloway's Uncertain Future

As for Holloway, the development is a huge blow to his budding basketball career. According to an agent of the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force in court records, Aden preferred to stay silent for now. However, the junior player also allegedly said that 'he only smokes.'

As of this writing, Holloway's court date remains unknown. His future with the Alabama Crimson Tide is also in the balance. But looking ahead, if he has plans to play on bigger stages, this arrest severely dampens his credibility moving forward.