Alijah Arenas has snubbed the NBA Draft and will play collegiate basketball. He has turned a lot of heads ever since he started playing in high school. As a freshman, he averaged 30.3 points, while in his sophomore year, he averaged 33.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 3.2 assists. When he committed to USC, there was a lot of buzz around how he would turn up.
After his NBA career, Gilbert Arenas has been well-known as a mentor for many young student-athletes. And as his son Alijah grew, he has been devoted to following his father. After a freshman year with USC, there were speculations about whether he would return, enter the transfer portal, or declare for the NBA draft.
Recently, Alijah Arenas declared for the NBA draft. It was a surprising decision for many. However, not long after, he changed his mind. Alijah Arenas has now withdrawn from the NBA draft and will return to the USC Trojans for his sophomore year.
USC guard Alijah Arenas reportedly had submitted his paperwork for the NBA Draft before the deadline, according to the NBA’s official early entry list. But he was considered to be winding up as a potential second-round pick.
So with no confirmation for a first-round option, Alijah decided to withdraw his name. Reportedly, he is projected to be a top prospect in the 2027 NBA draft.
Alijah Arenas’ freshman season
Gilbert Arenas’ son did not have an ideal freshman season. Alijah fortunately survived a serious car crash in April 2025. Then he suffered a torn meniscus injury in July 2025, which kept him out of action for the larger part of the season.
Arenas finally made his debut on January 21, 2026. He announced himself with a 29-point game against Indiana. Alijah Arenas could only play 14 games in the span of the season. He averaged 14.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists.
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