Alijah Arenas, a five-star basketball prospect committed to the University of Southern California, was reportedly involved in a serious car crash Thursday. Arenas, 18, is the son of three-time NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas.
TMZ, which first reported news of the crash, said that the accident happened at 4:55 a.m. PT on Thursday.
A Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson confirmed to The Athletic that it responded to a traffic accident at that time involving a Tesla Cybertruck that hit a “tree/hydrant with fire involved.”
The victim was an 18-year-old male who was outside the vehicle when firefighters arrived. He went to the hospital in serious condition, but the LAFD could not confirm the victim’s name. The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed that information but also could not confirm the victim’s name.
Arenas was placed into a medically induced coma, according to reports from ESPN and Sports Illustrated. He did not break any bones in the crash, according to those reports.
USC coach Eric Musselman said the program’s “thoughts and prayers” were with Arenas.
“Please keep him, his teammates and friends, and the entire Arenas family in your prayers,” Musselman said.
The LAPD released a statement that the victim’s condition was stable when he was hospitalized, but the LAFD told The Athletic that the person was in serious condition at that time.
Arena’s father, Gilbert, canceled Thursday’s episode of his YouTube talk show “Gil’s Arena,” but did not include a reason. The show’s production company asked fans to “keep Alijah and the entire family in your thoughts.”
🙏 https://t.co/Xw3AcCyjkR
— Gilbert Arenas (@NoChillGilZero) April 24, 2025
“I NEED ALL YOUR F–N PRAYERS,” wrote Laura Govan, Arenas’ mother, on Instagram at 4:19 p.m. ET. The former “Basketball Wives” star did not mention her son in the post, which she filled with prayer hands emojis.
A 6-foot-6, 195-pound shooting guard from Chatsworth High School outside Los Angeles, Arenas is the No. 10 overall recruit for the class of 2025, according to 247Sports. The outlet currently ranks him as the second-best player from California and the country’s top player at his position.
After fielding offers from Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State and the University of California, Arenas announced his commitment to USC in January. He averaged 30.9 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game during his time at Chatsworth.
Arenas most recently played for the West in the 2025 McDonald’s All-American Boys Game on April 1, where he made 44 percent of his shots and scored 11 points. His team beat the East, 105-92.
Gilbert Arenas played 11 seasons in the NBA for four teams. The Golden State Warriors drafted him in the second round of the 2001 draft. He spent two seasons with the Warriors before signing with the Washington Wizards in 2003, remaining there for the majority of his career.
Arenas played his final NBA season with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2012.
(Photo: Abigail Dollins / Statesman Journal / Imagn Images)
