After having his campus ban overturned Friday following a recent arrest, Alabama star Aiden Holloway plans to enroll in fall classes and hopes to rejoin the team next season pending the outcome of his legal case, his attorney Jason Neff told ESPN on Friday.
However, this decision is out of Holloway’s hands, as he was arrested just days before his team’s first-round match against Hofstra in the NCAA Tournament, when police executed a search warrant and found 2.1 pounds of marijuana in his apartment. As a result school authorities banned him from the campus and classes. According to his lawyer, the decision was overturned on Friday after a hearing. He can now attend classes and enroll in future courses.
“Although it’s not Aiden’s decision, he intends to play basketball next year if he gets the opportunity,” Neff told ESPN.
Holloway was officially indicted by a grand jury Thursday on a Class C felony charge of drug possession “not for personal use.” He was arrested on charges of serious drug possession and failure to affix tax stamp duty. Both felonies carry a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a $15,000 fine. Neff said the impeachment is a “procedural” and necessary step.
Neff said of the indictment, “No matter what happens, it had to happen because it is a felony.” “This is the normal process or procedure for any serious allegation.”
An Alabama spokesperson did not respond to ESPN’s request for comment. Last week, a school spokesperson said Holloway’s status remained unchanged after a judge granted him permission to travel, leading to speculation that he intended to travel with the team to Chicago for the matchup against Michigan in the Sweet 16.
Holloway’s legal future could take several paths. He intends to challenge the nature of his apartment search, inspired by items found in his trash. But Neff said the state of Alabama is slow to move on felony cases and trials may not occur for up to two years. However, Holloway may pursue other avenues to resolve his legal situation.
“Whether it’s through defense or settlement negotiations or pretrial diversion, whatever may happen over the next three, four, five months, we can move forward on this because between the district court and the circuit court, until you get that circuit court case number or you’re convicted, to say it another way, you’re stuck,” Neff said. “It’s like a torture chamber.”
