What's Happening?
Alijah Arenas, a five-star freshman recruit for the USC Trojans, made his college basketball debut less than a year after being placed in a medically induced coma following a car accident. Arenas, the son
of former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas, was involved in a crash in April 2025, which led to smoke inhalation injuries. After recovering from the coma, Arenas also underwent knee surgery for a meniscus injury sustained during summer training. In his debut against Northwestern, Arenas played 29 minutes, scoring eight points on 3-of-15 shooting. Despite his struggles, USC coach Eric Musselman expressed understanding of the challenges Arenas faced, noting his lack of nonconference play due to injuries. The Trojans, who started the season strong, have recently faced difficulties, losing four of their last six games, including two consecutive home losses.
Why It's Important?
The debut of Alijah Arenas is significant for USC as they navigate a challenging season. Arenas' return adds a potentially impactful player to the roster, but his performance highlights the difficulties of integrating a player recovering from significant injuries. USC's recent struggles, including a 14-5 overall record and 3-5 in conference play, underscore the need for Arenas to quickly adapt and contribute. The Trojans' performance impacts their standing in the Big Ten and their prospects for postseason play. Arenas' development could be crucial for USC's success, as they face upcoming road games against Wisconsin and Iowa, where they are likely to be underdogs.
What's Next?
USC will need to address their recent performance issues as they prepare for challenging road games. Coach Musselman may need to adjust strategies to better integrate Arenas and improve team dynamics. The Trojans' ability to recover from their current slump will be tested in the upcoming matches, which could significantly impact their season trajectory. The team's performance in these games will be critical in determining their position in the Big Ten standings and their potential for postseason success.
