Alijah Arenas, son of Gilbert Arenas, commits to USC over Arizona
Jan 30, 2025, 7:40 PM | Updated: Jan 31, 2025, 9:09 am

Former NBA player Gilbert Arenas talks with his son Alijah Arenas of Chatsworth at halftime against Monterey during a CIF State Division IV boys basketball championship game at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Saturday, March 9, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)
(Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)
Five-star shooting guard Alijah Arenas committed to USC, he announced on Thursday on his father’s podcast.
The 6-foot-6 combo guard out of Chatsworth High School in California picked the Trojans over Arizona, Louisville, Kentucky and Kansas.
The son of former three-time NBA All-Star and Wildcats alumnus Gilbert Arenas, Alijah Arenas is rated as 247 Sports’ No. 10 prospect for 2025.
While on the Gil’s Arena Podcast, Alijah FaceTimed USC coach Eric Musselman to reveal his decision.
ALIJAH ARENAS COMMITS TO USC 🔥🎉👏 pic.twitter.com/oJ1dPvr32O
— Gilbert Arenas (@GilsArenaShow) January 30, 2025
“Alijah, congratulations, man, you celebrate with your family,” Musselman said to Arenas on the call. “I’m gonna go celebrate with the coaches and call you in a little bit. Cannot wait to coach you. Thanks for trusting us. Love it that you’re staying in Los Angeles, California, Alijah. Fight on! Love you, man!”
“For me, (USC) felt like the best fit,” Arenas later said on the podcast. “For everybody that supported me on this journey, just helped me see my path. And then going on campus and seeing how being at USC was, like, it just made me feel special. And then I talked to the coach, and seeing what I could possibly be in, it was just amazing for me. So I think that I could really go and play for USC.”
Arenas is averaging 31.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game over 16 games during his senior season at Chatsworth, according to MaxPreps.
Arenas had narrowed down his choices to five schools, with Arizona being among the finalists, on Monday.
Also on Monday, Arenas was named a 2025 McDonald’s All-American. He’ll suit up for the West team alongside two other prospective Wildcats in Koa Peat and Brayden Burries. They are the only two remaining undecided players in the game.
Peat is from Perry High School in Gilbert. His final five schools include the Wildcats, ASU, Houston, Baylor and Texas.
He’s ranked just two spots higher than Arenas nationally by 247 Sports.
Burries attends Eleanor Roosevelt High School in California and is ranked 11th by 247 Sports. According to the website, Burries has visited Arizona, Tennessee, Oregon, Alabama and SMU.
Arizona has signed four-star forward Dwayne Aristode and has a commitment from 3-star guard Bryce James in its 2025 class.