TUSCALOOSA, Ala. โ The Alabama men's basketball program continued to be added to the roster for the 2024-25 season Saturday with former Auburn point guard Aiden Holloway committing to the Crimson Tide. Holloway, a former five-star recruit, started 26 of 35 games for the Tigers last season and averaged 7.3 points and 2.7 assists per game. Holloway visited Alabama on Thursday and is expected to be a key rotation piece for next year's team.
Holloway becomes Alabama's third transfer portal member during this period, joining guards Houston Mallett (Pepperdine) and Chris Youngblood (South Florida). Holloway's contributions bring Alabama's scholarship count to 12 for him.
What does Holloway's commitment mean for Alabama?
Holloway's performance last season wasn't spectacular, but his combination with Alabama could yield big results. Holloway is a high-level talent with one year of experience as a starter on a team that won the SEC Tournament title. Now, he's on Alabama's roster where he (presumably) won't have to carry as much baggage and can develop without the pressure he faced as a five-star freshman starter.
Assuming Mark Sears returns, Holloway will fill a need as a secondary ball handler who can move Alabama's offense in and out of sets when Sears is off the court. Holloway had a 3-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio last season, allowing him to be a playmaker who creates shots for shooters like Latrell Lightsell Jr. and rookies Mallett and Youngblood, as well as making shots himself. I can do it. If Sears leaves, Holloway could assume the starting point guard role or coach Nate Oats could select a guard lineup and starting frontcourt featuring Wrightsell, Mallett, and Youngblood, and that starting frontcourt. will be considered with Grant Nelson in light of his 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 plenty of shooters will give Holloway the freedom to get better looks. It should be. One of the areas where he struggled the most was scoring from inside the 3-point line, an area where Sears took significant steps from the 2022-23 season to last season.
Holloway, like Sears, is an undersized point guard, and the potential opportunity to learn under Sears would be invaluable. If Holloway can make similar strides under Oats and improve his fitness heading into his second season, he could become a valuable combo guard in spot minutes. Similarly, his size created a defensive disadvantage that Alabama struggled with last season. That's a concern, but he could feel some relief if he goes through another offseason strength program and works on improving his team's defense as a whole.
Alabama has one more roster spot and will likely use it as a frontcourt player. According to On3's Joe Tipton, Alabama will host Rutgers center Clifford Omoruyi next weekend, a two-time All-Big Ten defensive player who has one year left. Eligibility remains. The backcourt looks perfect with Holloway. Holloway is more of a combo, score-first guard, but he's a developing playmaker who could see a role grow and evolve under Oats as he progresses through the program.
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(Photo: Andy Lyons/Getty Images)