Alabama basketball player Aden Holloway plans to return to campus this fall and aims to rejoin the Crimson Tide basketball program for the 2026-27 season, pending the resolution of his legal troubles, according to his lawyer who spoke with ESPN on Friday.
The 21-year-old junior has been banned from campus and suspended indefinitely from the basketball team following his arrest on March 16 for felony drug possession. Police discovered 2.1 pounds of marijuana during a search of his residence, an amount just below the threshold that would have triggered drug trafficking charges under state law, according to authorities.
Holloway faces charges of first-degree marijuana possession (not for personal use), classified as a Class C felony, along with failure to affix a tax stamp, which is also a felony offense. He posted $5,000 bond and was released from custody.
During Friday’s hearing, officials lifted the campus prohibition, allowing him to register for upcoming semesters.
However, his legal challenges remain far from resolved.
“Although it’s not Aden’s call to make, given the opportunity, his intent is to play basketball next year,” his lawyer Jason Neff stated to ESPN.
A grand jury in Alabama issued an indictment against Holloway on Thursday for both felony charges. Each charge carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison and fines reaching $15,000.
Neff described the indictment as “procedural.”
“This was bound to happen no matter what because it’s a felony,” Neff explained to ESPN regarding the indictment. “This is the normal process or procedure for any felony charge.”
According to Neff, while a trial could be delayed for up to two years, the matter might be resolved through other means within several months. He cited “settlement negotiations or pretrial diversion” as possible alternatives.
Should the case proceed to trial, Holloway plans to contest the legality of the apartment search and the circumstances surrounding it, ESPN reported.
During this past season with the Crimson Tide, Holloway ranked as the team’s second-leading scorer, averaging 16.8 points per game while shooting 43.8% from three-point range.
His absence prevented him from participating in the NCAA Tournament, where Alabama reached the Sweet 16 before falling to top-seeded Michigan in the Midwest Region.
