The Trojans get a boost with the top five-star.
Alijah Arenas set to make long-awaited USC basketball debut tonight originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Alijah Arenas’ wait is nearly over.
One of the top recruits in the 2025 class is set to make his long-awaited college debut Wednesday when USC hosts Northwestern. This marks a significant moment for a freshman whose path to the court has been anything but ordinary.
Arenas, a 6-foot-6 guard and the No. 10 overall player in the 2025 recruiting class according to 247Sports, has not appeared in a game since suffering a torn meniscus during a summer practice in July. The injury required surgery and was expected to sideline him six to eight months, but his return will come in fewer than six.
“Alijah is a tremendous worker, teammate, competitor and person,” USC coach Eric Musselman said when the injury was announced. “His health is our No. 1 priority. We have no doubt that he will come back even stronger.”
The knee injury was not the only major hurdle Arenas faced last year.
In April, he was involved in a serious car crash in Reseda, California, when his vehicle struck a fire hydrant and tree and caught fire. Arenas was hospitalized and placed in a coma. When he awoke a day later, he was unable to speak, making his return to basketball even more remarkable.
Arenas’ high school production earned him a spot in the 2025 McDonald’s All-American Game and made him one of the most anticipated freshmen in the country. His last name is familiar for a reason. He is the son of three-time NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas. His mother, Laura Govan, played college basketball at New Mexico State, and his older sister Izela is a sophomore guard at Kansas State.
He joins a growing group of sons of former NBA stars making early impacts in college basketball, including Duke freshmen Cameron Boozer and Cayden Boozer, Syracuse guard Kiyan Anthony, and Georgia’s Jake Wilkins.
More:NBA teammate of Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama granted return to Alabama men’s basketball
Arenas returns to a USC team that is 14-4 in its second season under Musselman. After a 12-1 start, the Trojans have dropped three of their past five games and could benefit from the scoring punch and versatility Arenas brings to the game.
Tip-off between USC and Northwestern is at 11 p.m. ET on BTN (Available on FuboTV)
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