Aden Holloway proved to be a terrific addition for Nate Oats and Alabama basketball last season. The Auburn transfer was a glove-like fit in Oats' offensive system, proving the doubters on the Plains wrong immediately by elevating his offensive game instantly in a large freshman-to-sophomore leap.
Holloway emerged as one of the best shooters in college basketball last season, seeing a dramatic increase in his numbers from the previous season.
Fresh (Aub): 20.2 MPG, 7.3 PPG, 2.7 APG, 32/30/77 splits
Soph (Bama): 21.1 MPG, 11.4 PPG, 1.9 APG, 47/41/78 splits
Holloway transitioned into more of an off-the-ball role with Alabama, with Mark Sears and Labaron Philon doing the bulk of the ball-handling. He was a terrific spot-up shooter, but also proved he could go and get his own.
He'll likely be used more on-the-ball this season. Holloway figures to be Alabama's secondary ball-handler behind Philon, and he'll have to initiate the offense and create for himself and others.
Oats believes Holloway could be in for an even bigger leap in his third season of college basketball.
"Holloway, I think he made a big jump from his freshman to sophomore year," Oats told reporters on Tuesday. "First year with us was a sophomore year. I think he’s going to make a bigger jump. He’s looked really good here in practice."
To get there and to see an increased role, he'll have to show a lot of improvement on the defensive end of the floor. That's where he struggled mightily last season, and it kept him from playing as much as his offensive production would have otherwise warranted.
It appears that improvement has been a focal point this offseason for Holloway.
Nate Oats believes Aden Holloway has 'significantly improved' on defense
"Going into the year, you probably would have said, and rightfully so, that Holloway would have been a weak link defensively, particularly in the back court," Oats said. "I think his defense has significantly improved. He’s doing a great job. He’s getting up in the guys, pressuring the ball. He understands as a smaller guard, he’s got to be a lot more of a pest. I think he’s doing it. He’s been good. He’s put on weight, is stronger, more physical. He’s always been super talented offensively. You got him playing a lot better."
Holloway taking a leap on the defensive end changes the calculus for Oats and Alabama. Before his comments, it seemed unlikely that Holloway would start next to Philon in the back court. I envisioned a similar sixth-man type role for Holloway again this season, but if he's that much better on the defensive end, he very well could slot in as the two-guard next to Philon in the starting lineup.
Their minutes will still likely stagger a good bit as those two are expected to be Alabama's primary ball handlers, but Oats has a lot more options this season with guys who could function in tertiary roles on the ball. Latrell Wrightsell, Amari Allen, and, when healthy, Jalil Bethea, will spend some time on-ball. Practice clips have also shown Alabama using Florida State transfer forward Taylor Bol Bowen to initiate the offense, too.
Alabama's roster is deep and talented. There are a lot more options and a lot more versatility than there was a year ago. But to reach the ceiling last season's team had, Oats is going to need some guys to take a leap, particularly when looking to replace the production of Sears.
It sounds like Holloway is going to be one of the guys to do so.