Nate Oats has an Aden Holloway conundrum this offseason. With Labaron Philon almost certainly declaring for the draft and Latrell Wrightsell out of eligibility, Alabama already has a hole in the backcourt that needs to be filled. That hole becomes a canyon if Holloway is unable to return to school or play basketball next year.
Holloway's future is very much in doubt in the aftermath of his arrest on felony marijuana possession just days before the start of the NCAA Tournament. Holloway is, at last word, suspended from school pending a student conduct review. There's no word on whether that has happened yet.
Holloway has a preliminary hearing on his charges on April 14th, and more information will be gleaned from that.
But the Transfer Portal officially opens on April 7th, running through April 21st, and Oats cannot wait around hoping that his star guard is going to be able to play again next year. Instead, he should be aggressive in pursuing a potential replacement, and the perfect guy for that role has already announced his intentions to enter the portal after a stellar freshman season in Boulder.
Colorado guard Isaiah Johnson was a revelation for the Buffaloes in 2025-26. He vastly outperformed his 3-star recruiting ranking, breaking Colorado's freshman record for points (set by NBAer Alec Burks), and averaged 16.9 points and 3.0 assists per game on terrific shooting splits for 48.6% from the field, 37.8% from three, and 82.1% from the free throw line. He also shot a terrific 66% at the rim, which is incredibly impressive for a 6-foot-1 guard.
Colorado’s Isaiah Johnson is entering the portal, per @DraftExpress
— The Portal Report (@ThePortalReport) March 27, 2026
One of the best young guards on the market.
Dude’s a BUCKET pic.twitter.com/uiYYaHjcBM
Nate Oats should aggressively pursue Colorado transfer Isaiah Johnson
Johnson could be the lead guard for Oats next season, but like Holloway, he would need to be surrounded by length defensively. He's not going to provide a ton on that end of the floor, and his size will be a detriment.
But Johnson's offensive bag is impressive, and his ability to knock down shots from deep makes him a strong fit for Oats' system. He's got an extensive bag, a crafty ability near the rim, and a smooth left-handed jumpshot.
Perhaps he could be a package deal with teammate Bangot Dak, a 6-foot-11 forward who would fit the mold of Oats looking for more size and versatility in the frontcourt.
Johnson ranks as the No. 3 overall player in the Transfer Portal on 247.
Colorado Buffaloes on SI has already identified the Crimson Tide as one of the best landing spots for the star freshman. He seems to be a glove-like fit for Alabama's system, and Oats shouldn't wait to find out on Holloway before pursuing him.