Alijah Arenas starts in long-awaited debut for Trojans against Northwestern following knee surgery

By Canadian Press on January 21, 2026.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Alijah Arenas started in his long-awaited debut for Southern California on Wednesday night against Northwestern after completing his recovery from a knee injury he sustained last summer following his recovery from a car crash last spring.

The freshman guard’s debut came one month after his return to practice for the Trojans.

“It was great to have him back with the rest of the guys,” coach Eric Musselman said last month following Arenas’ first practice. “He’s got such a great basketball IQ and brings a tremendous amount of energy. It looked like he had been a part of practice for quite some time.”

Arenas, the son of former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas, was involved in a car crash that led to him being placed in an induced coma in April due to smoke inhalation. He spent six days in the hospital following the single-car crash in which Arenas hit a tree but didn’t suffer major injuries.

Arenas was ready to practice following the car crash when he needed surgery to repair the torn meniscus in his knee.

The 6-foot-6 Arenas was a McDonald’s All-American and five-star recruit from Chatsworth (Calif.) High School whose debut was highly anticipated.

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The Associated Press

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