Is Aden Holloway playing today? Latest updates on Alabama star’s Sweet 16 status after arrest
Alabama Crimson Tide guard Aden Holloway has been out for the entire 2026 NCAA Tournament so far, including his team’s run to the Sweet 16, due to legal issues.
Holloway was arrested in Alabama on March 16, charged with first-degree possession of marijuana and failure to affix a tax stamp, then was released from jail on bond. Holloway was also removed from campus following his arrest.
However, on Friday, the morning prior to Alabama’s Sweet 16 matchup against the Michigan Wolverines, Holloway reportedly received legal approval to leave the state of Alabama, which was a condition of his bond. It was one cleared hurdle in Holloway potentially being able to return to the court — but the Alabama guard still appears unlikely to return for the Sweet 16.
Here’s what to know about Holloway’s approval to travel out of state following his arrest, and the latest on his status for Alabama vs. Michigan.
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Is Aden Holloway playing today?
This section will be updated.
For now, there is no indication that Holloway will be able to play in Alabama’s Sweet 16 matchup against Michigan on Friday night, which tips off at 7:35 p.m. ET.
While he did take an initial legal step toward rejoining his team, there are more hurdles Holloway would have to clear before returning to the court.
On Friday, court documents showed that Holloway asked for, and received, permission to leave the state of Alabama, per AL.com. Part of Holloway’s condition of his bond following his arrest was that he would have to get approval to leave the state.
Alabama’s matchup against Michigan is being played in Chicago. If the Crimson Tide win, they would also play in Chicago for the Elite Eight this weekend. According to AL.com, Holloway’s filing said that he plans to leave the state of Alabama on Friday and return on Monday, March 30, which would allow him to be with the team for its next two NCAA Tournament games, if necessary. The request was approved by Judge Joanne Jannick.
As for Holloway’s status to play, however, there are likely additional steps in his way; for one, he was removed from Alabama’s team and campus following his arrest. The school would have to officially clear him to return to the court, including being cleared by Alabama’s office of student conduct, per AL.com — but because that office doesn’t make its rulings public, that may have already happened.
The other issue for Holloway’s status, especially for Friday’s Sweet 16 game, is that he was already listed as “out” on the Crimson Tide’s most recent availability report. The NCAA has enforced stricter rules about availability reports in recent years, and Alabama re-directing course to make Holloway available vs. Michigan may cause issues.
Alabama head coach Nate Oats hasn’t previously ruled out Holloway returning to the court if he was permitted to do so, but also said the team would assess the situation as it plays out.
“You know what, I’m not sure where that’s all going to go,” Oats said before the first round of the tournament, per AL.com. “We’ll kind of address things as they come up. But for right now, the team is just preparing to play with who’s at practice, and he’s obviously not there. We’ll prepare to play without him and address that matter if it comes up.
Aden Holloway arrest
Holloway was arrested on March 16 in Alabama, then booked at Tuscaloosa County Jail with bond set at $5,000. He was released on bond by 10:45 a.m. local time that day.
Police said their search in Holloway’s case turned up “more than a pound of marijuana, paraphernalia and cash.”AL.com reported that the search found more than two pounds of marijuana, along with “a vacuum sealed bag with marijuana, a rolling tray and packaging material.” Holloway told police he “only smokes,” the outlet reported.
Details on the arrest of Alabama basketball guard Aden Holloway from a Tuscaloosa police spokesperson pic.twitter.com/rJEUr6pL29
— Nick Kelly (@_NickKelly) March 16, 2026
Afterward, Alabama released a statement, announcing Holloway had been removed from campus and the men’s basketball team. Since then, Holloway has been sidelined from the Crimson Tide for their first two NCAA Tournament games, both wins.
MORE: Aden Holloway’s full arrest details
Aden Holloway charges
Holloway was hit with two charges upon his arrest: first-degree possession of marijuana not for personal use and failure to affix a tax stamp. Both of those charges were felonies, according to AL.com. Recreational marijuana is illegal in Alabama.
Aden Holloway stats
Holloway, a junior, transferred to Alabama from Auburn in 2024 and has become one of the Crimson Tide’s leading scorers.
Here’s a look at Holloway’s career numbers so far.
| Season | Team | Games | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | FG% | 3PT% | FT% |
| 2023-24 | Auburn | 35 | 20.2 | 7.3 | 1.5 | 2.7 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 31.8% | 30.2% | 77.4% |
| 2024-25 | Alabama | 37 | 21.1 | 11.4 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 46.5% | 41.2% | 77.6% |
| 2025-26 | Alabama | 28 | 28.4 | 16.8 | 2.8 | 3.8 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 48.1% | 43.8% | 86.4% |
| Career: | — | 53 | 22.8 | 11.5 | 2.0 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 42.8% | 38.6% | 81.9% |
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Aden Holloway NBA draft projection
Holloway’s legal situation has clouded his NBA future for the time being, but it’s also unknown whether he’d declare for the 2026 Draft. Per NBA Draft Room, he has been projected as a second-round pick in 2026, if he does declare.
Holloway’s shotmaking has put him on the NBA radar, but size and defensive limitations help cap his potential draft slot.
However, his teammate, Alabama guard Labaron Philon, is a projected lottery pick in the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft.
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