Alijah Arenas Makes Long-Awaited USC Debut Against Northwestern
Alijah Arenas, the highly touted five-star freshman guard for the USC Trojans, officially made his college basketball debut on January 21, 2026, starting against Northwestern at the Galen Center in Los Angeles. The game marked a significant milestone for the son of former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas, who overcame major setbacks including a serious car crash in April 2025 and subsequent knee surgery from a torn meniscus sustained in July 2025.
Arenas, ranked No. 10 in the 2025 recruiting class by 247Sports, reclassified to join USC early and brings elite scoring ability and versatility as a 6-foot-6 shooting guard.
- The debut came after Arenas returned to practice about a month earlier, with head coach Eric Musselman praising his work ethic and integration with the team.
- USC entered the matchup with a 14-4 record in Musselman's second season, aiming to bolster their Big Ten standing and NCAA Tournament resume with Arenas' addition.
- In high school at Chatsworth (CA), Arenas set the all-time scoring record in CIF Los Angeles City Section history with 3,002 points and earned McDonald's All-American honors.
- His journey included full recovery from an induced coma following the April crash, followed by the knee injury that sidelined him for the season's start.
- Arenas' presence provides much-needed perimeter scoring and depth for the Trojans as they navigate conference play.
This debut represents resilience and high expectations for one of college basketball's most anticipated freshmen in the 2025-26 season.
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