Adjusting from the elite grassroots circuits of high school basketball takes time for any freshman, no matter how many stars are on their recruiting profile. Auburn’s Aden Holloway had five stars, and immediately arrived at college expected to compete for a starting point guard job all while learning how to fit getting his laundry done into the schedule of a regular college freshman. It was always going to take time for Holloway to become the point guard ready for the SEC that Auburn needs.

Except he hasn’t had any time.

Holloway injured his ankle within the first two minutes of Auburn’s late October scrimmage against Furman. He did not play in Auburn’s exhibition game against Auburn-Montgomery He practiced all fall against players wearing the same name on the front jersey as him, and is still yet to see any legitimate time against another college opponent.

So to welcome him back, he faces Baylor at 8 p.m. Tuesday in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. That’s about as tough as it gets to begin a college career.

“You talk about putting him in a tough spot,” head coach Bruce Pearl said Monday. “But look, he’s born to be in a tough spot. This is what he relishes. He’s excited about playing and his teammates are excited about having him be out there.”

Pearl said he expects Holloway to return for the game against Baylor. Holloway was not in a boot at Auburn’s exhibition against AUM, but did shoot around before the game — albeit with a noticeable limp.

And he’ll be coming back against a Baylor team known to be physical and stout defensively in its prior iterations. Baylor has had a top-25 defense per KenPom in three of the last four years. Baylor places fast with great athletes in its group. This year’s Baylor team adds its own 5-star freshman this year, too, with forward Ja’Kobe Walter.

So part of working Holloway back in means doing so to prepare him for the type of defenders he’ll see not just with a college team, but an elite one like Baylor which is ranked No. 20 in the Associated Press preseason poll.

It’s also about trying to figure out what this year’s Baylor team will look like. Pearl doesn’t know. He hasn’t seen any film on the Bears.

“We got no eyes on them from the standpoint of they had two private exhibitions and had agreements not to exchange film,” Pearl said. “We’re basically basing what we saw off of what they’ve done historically.”

Pearl said he normally anticipates getting film for one of the opponents’ scrimmages and then he’ll give back Auburn’s scrimmage film. Pearl said its generally encouraged to exchange film but there is no rule that requires it.

In turn, that means Baylor also has no scouting on Auburn. Frankly, it wouldn’t matter in the case of Holloway even if Baylor did because he hasn’t been on the court.

If Holloway is not at full strength — and possibly even if he is — Tre Donaldson will likely be Auburn’s starting point guard, just as he was against AUM.

Holloway is likely to see the court, though the exact capacity he’ll play seems unclear. Just as much as he needs the experience against a high-level opponent, it’s also the first game of a long season. Auburn needs Holloway to be at his best and healthiest later in the year.

He hasn’t had the chance to see enough about college basketball yet to truly be ready. Tuesday night will be his first class. It’s his first real chance to learn.

It’s quite the welcome to college basketball.

Matt Cohen covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @Matt_Cohen_ or email him at [email protected]