Transfers across rivalry lines have become more common in college sports in the age of the transfer portal.

In football, former Alabama defensive back Antonio Kite made the controversial move across Iron Bowl lines last season, transferring to Auburn after legendary Alabama coach Nick Saban retired.

While that move raised eyebrows, Kite didn’t have the kind of prominence former five-star prospect Aden Holloway had at Auburn when he left for Tuscaloosa after one season.

The transfer worked out for Holloway too, averaging 11.8 points per game and shooting 48.5% from the field this season at Alabama, significant jumps from his freshman year averages at Auburn.

When speaking to ESPN during College GameDay Saturday morning, Holloway said his decision had to do with finding the right fit and playstyle.

“I simply came to Alabama for the fact that, like their play style and their concepts and their terms and like everything just fit my personal game better,” Holloway said. “Auburn’s still a great program. It just didn’t fit me, like for my development.”

Given both Holloway and Auburn’s success since the transfer, Bruce Pearl called the move a “win-win,” when speaking to reporters Thursday.

Holloway was also asked by ESPN whether there was more margin for error at Alabama, playing in a different system.

“For any freshman, like on any team in the country, this will be tough, like the margin for error is not that high, and I’m saying that’s how it was last year,” Holloway said. “But this year, coaches trust me a little more. See me do a little more in practice. So, they gave me a little more freedom and confidence to go play my game and make a little more mistakes and be able to play through them.”

Holloway acknowledged the stakes of Saturday’s matchup, but says he’s trying to make himself realize that it’s “just another game.”

Auburn and Alabama’s No. 1 versus No. 2 Iron Bowl of basketball matchup is set to tip off at 3 p.m. Saturday and will be televised on ESPN.

Peter Rauterkus covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @peter_rauterkus or email him at [email protected]m