TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Alabama men’s basketball program continued to add to its 2024-25 roster Saturday when former Auburn point guard Aden Holloway committed to the Crimson Tide. Holloway, a former five-star recruit, started 26 of the Tigers’ 35 games last season, averaging 7.3 points and 2.7 assists per game. Holloway visited Alabama on Thursday and looks to be a key piece of the rotation for next year’s team.
Holloway is the third commit in the transfer portal for Alabama during this window, joining guards Houston Mallette (Pepperdine) and Chris Youngblood (South Florida). Holloway’s commitment brings Alabama’s scholarship total to 12.
What does Holloway’s commitment mean for Alabama?
Holloway’s numbers from last season weren’t eye-popping, but the pairing with Alabama could yield big results. Holloway is a high-level talent with a year of starting experience under his belt for a team that won the SEC Tournament title. He now joins an Alabama team where (presumably) he won’t need to carry a heavy load and can develop without the pressure he faced as a five-star starter.
Assuming Mark Sears returns, Holloway fills a need as a secondary ball handler who can move the Alabama offense in and out when Sears is off the field. Holloway had a 3-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio last season and will be another playmaker to create shots for shooters like Latrell Wrightsell Jr. and newcomers Mallette and Youngblood while also being able to create for himself- even. If Sears leaves, it’s possible Holloway assumes the starting point guard role, or coach Nate Oats could opt for a guard lineup featuring Wrightsell-Mallette-Youngblood and a starting frontcourt to be determined with Grant Nelson weighing an NBA draft decision.
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Holloway shot 31.8 percent from the field and 30 percent from 3-point range last season, but playing in Alabama’s offense and being surrounded by a litany of shooters should free Holloway up for better looks . One of the areas he struggled the most was scoring inside the 3-point line, an area where Sears took a significant step between the 2022-23 season and last season.
Holloway, like Sears, is an undersized playmaker, and the potential opportunity to learn under Sears would be invaluable. If Holloway can make similar progress under Oats and improve his strength early in his sophomore season, he can become a valuable combo guard in a matter of minutes. Along the same lines, his size has led to unfavorable situations on defense, which is where Alabama struggled last season. That’s a concern, but another offseason in a strength program and a team-wide commitment to better defensive play should insulate him a bit.
Alabama has an extra roster spot available, which it will likely use for a frontcourt piece. According to Joe Tipton of On3, Alabama is set to host Rutgers center Clifford Omoruyi next weekend, Omoruyi is a two-time All-Big Ten defensive selection with an extra year of eligibility. The backcourt appears complete with Holloway, who is more of a combo, score-first guard, but is a developing playmaker who could see a growing and evolving role under Oats as he grows in the program.
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(Photo: Andy Lyons/Getty Images)