
USC recruit Alijah Arenas avoids major injuries, is walking and talking after car crash
USC recruit Alijah Arenas avoids major injuries, is walking and talking after car crash
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Five-star high school basketball recruit Alijah Arenas is expected to be released from the hospital soon as he avoided major injuries. following the single-car crash he was involved in last week.
The update on the son of former NBA player Gilbert Arenas came during the elder Arenas' show "Gil's Arena" on Monday. Arenas was not present for the episode but co-host Josiah Johnson provided an update after speaking to Gilbert Arenas.
"Happy to announce that Alijah is doing much better," Josiah Johnson, one of the hosts of "Gil's Arena," said during the show Monday. "Alijah's doing better, walking, talking, progressing very well, should be released from the hospital very soon. No major injuries as a result of the car accident."
Johnson said Arenas, 18, was driving back from the gym Thursday morning in the Los Angeles suburb of Reseda when he lost control of his vehicle. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, a Tesla Cybertruck driven by an 18-year-old driver crashed into a tree and a fire hydrant at 4:55 a.m. The truck caught on fire as heavy smoke came out of it.
Arenas was transported to a local hospital in serious condition following the crash and was placed into an induced coma. Arenas' family shared an update on Friday that he was out of the induced coma and although he remained intubated, he was able to open his eyes and write on a piece of paper.
A guard from Chatsworth High School in Southern California, Arenas is the 10th ranked overall player in the 2025 recruiting class, according to 247Sports. Arenas committed to Southern California over offers from Alabama, Kansas, Kentucky and Arizona, among other schools. He played in the 2025 McDonald's All-American Boys Game. He scored 11 points in the contest as he was part of the West team that defeated the East team 105-92.
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