USC’s top incoming freshman, Alijah Arenas, has suffered a torn meniscus and may be sidelined for the entire 2025–26 college basketball season.
NBA insider Chris Haynes broke the news Wednesday, reporting that the five-star recruit is expected to miss at least 6–8 months.
The injury delivers a major blow to both Arenas and USC’s basketball program, which had been banking on the freshman guard to make an immediate impact.
Arenas, the son of former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas, reclassified from the 2026 to 2025 recruiting class earlier this year.
He had committed to USC over blue-blood programs including Kentucky, Kansas, Arizona, and Louisville.
The 6-foot-5 guard earned national attention at Chatsworth High School, where he averaged 33 points and 8.6 rebounds per game as a sophomore.
Arenas was named a McDonald’s All-American and widely projected to start for the Trojans from day one.
His timeline suggests he will miss preseason training and possibly the entire Pac-12 campaign, depending on the pace of recovery and rehab.
Meniscus tears can vary in severity, but a 6–8 month absence places his earliest potential return around February 2026.
The setback raises questions about whether he will ever suit up for USC, given that many high-profile recruits turn pro after one year regardless of playing time.
Arenas had been viewed as a potential 2026 NBA Draft lottery pick, but this development could reshape his path depending on recovery and exposure.
