Alabama basketball star arrested for marijuana days ahead of 2026 March Madness

Update: Holloway has been removed from campus, and his case is being reviewed by the student conduct office. He likely isn’t playing in March Madness.

Aden Holloway has been one of Alabama’s best men’s basketball players this season. The junior is shooting 43.8 percent from three while being a critical secondary playmaker next to star guard Labaron Philon. He’s a super efficient scorer for a 6’1, 180-pound guard with remarkable 64.3 percent true shooting this season. He’s money from the foul line (86.4 percent) and doesn’t turn the ball over much.

Holloway was arrested on Monday morning just hours after the 2026 men’s NCAA tournament bracket was announced featuring Alabama as a No. 4 seed. Holloway was reportedly taken into custody for possessing more than a pound of marijuana. Recreational marijuana remains illegal in the state of Alabama. Holloway was charged with two felonies for “first-degree possession of marijuana and failure to affix a tax stamp.”

Here’s the full report:

Losing Holloway for the NCAA tournament would be a devastating blow for the Crimson Tide. Alabama starts it’s NCAA tournament run on Friday afternoon against No. 13 seed Hofstra. If Alabama wins, it will face the winner of Texas Tech vs. Akron on Sunday for the right to go to the Sweet 16.

Marijuana is still federally illegal, but do we really have to still be arresting people for weed and stamps? Here in Chicago, it feels like there’s a marijuana dispensary on every corner, which is heavily taxed and has generated quite a bit of extra revenue for the state. Marijuana arrests historically target Black Americans at a disproportionate rate. Holloway made a mistake, but it doesn’t feel like the punishment fits the crime as he’s faced with two felonies before the most important basketball stretch of his life.

Here’s hoping Holloway gets out of this unscathed and can still play in the NCAA tournament.