Just a few days before the NCAA tournament begins, the Alabama Crimson Tide may be missing a key roster member. Junior guard Aden Holloway faced arrest on Monday when law enforcement, acting on information from several sources, reportedly discovered more than one pound of cannabis during a drug investigation at a Tuscaloosa home.
The 21-year-old Holloway received charges of first-degree marijuana possession and for not affixing a tax stamp. During the search, officers also located drug-related equipment and currency.
According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Holloway was released from the Tuscaloosa County detention facility on a $5,000 bond by 10:45 a.m. CT.
A statement distributed to numerous journalists by the University of Alabama confirmed that Holloway has been removed from campus grounds.
“The institution is cognizant of these claims and is actively collecting additional details. The student has been temporarily removed from university premises while awaiting a thorough inquiry by the UA Office of Student Conduct,” said the official communication.
In Alabama, possessing marijuana in the first degree is categorized as a Class C felony. Should Holloway be found guilty, he might serve a sentence of up to a decade in a state prison, in addition to a potential fine reaching $15,000. The Polson law firm also noted that a conviction could lead to a six-month suspension of his driving privileges and compulsory attendance at drug awareness courses.
As reported by patch.com, the charge for failing to affix a tax stamp pertains to illicit substances held without the required state excise tax payment.
This apprehension of Holloway occurred just one day after the Crimson Tide secured a No. 4 seeding in the upcoming NCAA tournament. The team is slated to compete against the No. 13 seed Hofstra in the initial round of the competition this Friday.
His participation in that game remains uncertain. Should Holloway be unavailable, it would represent a considerable setback for Alabama. During his junior season, Holloway contributed an average of 16.8 points and 3.8 assists, positioning him as the team’s second-highest scorer, trailing only sophomore guard Labaron Philon.
