With the NCAA Tournament just days away, Alabama could be losing one of its most important players.
Teenage guard Aden Holloway was arrested Monday after authorities allegedly found more than a pound of marijuana during a drug search at a Tuscaloosa home, according to multiple sources.
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According to ESPN, authorities found 2.1 pounds of marijuana in Holloway’s apartment. That’s a significant number, since in Alabama, 2.2 pounds can lead to a drug charge.
Holloway, 21, was charged with first-degree possession of marijuana and failure to post a tax stamp. Authorities also found drug paraphernalia and cash during the search.
Holloway was released from the Tuscaloosa County Jail at 10:45 a.m. CT on $5,000 bail, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported.
In a statement shared with multiple reporters, Alabama wrote that Holloway has been removed from campus.
“The university is aware of the allegations and is working to gather additional information. The student has been removed from campus pending further investigation by the UA Office of Student Conduct,” the statement said.
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Alabama coach Nate Oates addressed Holloway’s arrest on his weekly radio show Monday night.
“We have standards in our plans,” Oats said, via AL.com. “We have ways of holding our people accountable. We try to keep everything in-house. Obviously, there are situations where you can’t do that and this is one of them. It was a little different. When I found out this morning, when we found out what happened this morning. I found out this morning. I thought it was all over this morning.
“We had to suspend him pending an investigation by the UA Office of Student Conduct. We are disappointed in his behavior. Having said that, we still love him. He is still our person. We will get him the help he needs and we will continue to do whatever we can to help him.”
In Alabama, first-degree possession of marijuana is a Class C felony in the state. If Holloway is convicted, he could face up to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $15,000. He may also lose his driver’s license for six months and must attend mandatory drug awareness classes, according to the Poulsen Law Firm.
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According to patch.com, failure to stamp a tax stamp is the penalty for possessing illegal drugs without paying state taxes.
Holloway’s arrest came a day after the Crimson Tide clinched a fourth seed in the NCAA tournament. The team will face No. 13 Hofstra in the first round on Friday.
Holloway’s absence will be a significant loss for Alabama. As a senior, Holloway averaged 16.8 points and 3.8 assists per game. He is the team’s second-leading scorer behind sophomore guard LaBaron Philon.
“I think our players, at the same time, you know Aden is one of our guys and everybody wants to embrace him and everybody makes mistakes in life,” Oats said. “But they also understand that we have to move forward and we have another group of guys that the team has to play on Friday. So, we thought we did a good job this morning of addressing the situation, what we knew at the time, and allowing our guys to focus on training.”