Aden Holloway is quickly becoming Alabama’s go-to guy when the game is on the line-and he’s not just rising to the occasion, he’s owning it.
The junior guard has been a steadying force for the Crimson Tide in crunch time, and last week, he showed once again why the ball keeps finding its way into his hands when it matters most. In back-to-back nail-biters against Texas A&M and Auburn, Holloway delivered in the clutch like a veteran who’s been there a hundred times before.
Against Texas A&M, he hit a wild, acrobatic shot late in the game that helped seal the win in Tuscaloosa. Then, just a few days later, he returned to familiar territory on the Plains and took over. Holloway rattled off nine straight points in the second half, including a momentum-shifting and-one three-pointer that silenced the Auburn crowd and helped Alabama escape with a tough road win.
Fast forward to Saturday night against South Carolina-less drama, sure, but same story. Holloway closed the door again, scoring nine points in the final 2:13 to put the Gamecocks away.
He started with a strong drive and finish at the rim to push Alabama’s lead to 12. After South Carolina answered with a bucket, Holloway responded with a clean look from deep, burying a three to stretch the lead to 13.
Then came the free throws-four of them, all calmly knocked down. He ended the night with a team-high 20 points, shooting a blistering 4-of-5 from beyond the arc.
“He’s shooting it really well,” head coach Nate Oats said postgame. “4-of-5 from three tonight. I don’t think the moment scares him, ever. He’s got a lot of confidence in his abilities.”
That confidence is showing up in big ways-and at the perfect time.
Earlier in the season, it was freshman Labaron Philon who often played the closer role for Alabama. But Philon hasn’t looked quite like himself lately. He’s battling through some physical limitations and hasn’t had the same burst off the dribble that made him so dangerous earlier in the year.
That shift has opened the door for Holloway to take on more of the primary on-ball responsibilities. While Philon slides to the two, Holloway is now effectively running the point, and it’s paying off. His ability to get downhill, get into the paint, and force defenses to react is a cornerstone of Alabama’s offensive identity-and right now, he’s doing it better than anyone else on the roster.
What makes Holloway’s emergence even more impressive is how naturally he’s stepped into that role. He’s not just filling in-he’s thriving. Whether it’s a tough layup through contact, a deep three with a hand in his face, or calmly knocking down free throws late, Holloway’s been the guy who wants the ball when the game is in the balance.
“He’s a big-time shot maker,” Philon said of his teammate. “If there’s anybody on the floor, I’d rather give him the ball.”
That says a lot coming from a player who was once the go-to option himself.
Alabama’s season is heating up, and if recent games are any indication, Aden Holloway is heating up right along with it. When the lights are brightest and the clock is ticking down, the Tide have found their closer-and he’s not blinking.