ALIJAH ARENAS EXPLODES FOR 29 IN FIFTH COLLEGE GAME

## The Kid Finally Arrived In just his fifth collegiate game, freshman Alijah Arenas scored a career-high 29 points and USC held off Indiana 81-75 in what can only be described as the moment everyone was waiting for. It was Arenas' first double-digit scoring game of his college career. Let that sink in. The kid who was ranked No. 7 overall in the class of 2025 and rated a consensus five-star recruit had been struggling to crack double digits. Arenas had struggled with efficiency since debuting for the Trojans in mid-January, shooting 4-of-14 from the field and 1-of-6 on three-point attempts in his early games. The weight of expectations was heavy. ## When Stars Align After USC leading scorer Chad Baker-Mazara went down early in the second half with what appeared to be a knee injury, someone had to step up. When Trojan starters Ezra Ausar and Jacob Cofie fouled out late in the second half, the stage was set for greatness. Arenas shot 9 of 23 from the field, including 3 of 9 from 3-point range, and made 8 of 9 foul shots. He created shots and scored from all three levels to put up 10 points in the first half and embraced contact as the second half unfolded, pushing up against a defender to shoot a layup and make the free throw after to pull USC ahead 52-41. This wasn't just stat padding against a weak opponent. Indiana's Lamar Wilkerson finished with 33 points on 55% shooting, keeping the pressure on throughout. ## Legacy in the Making Arenas is the son of former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas. His father was coached by USC's Eric Musselman in the NBA with the Golden State Warriors, making Alijah Musselman's first second-generation player. Arenas reclassified midway through his junior year from the class of 2026 to the class of 2025, meaning he's technically playing college ball a year early. He should be a senior in high school this season, but instead he's "going to get thrown into Big Ten play," as Musselman noted. After tearing his meniscus in July and missing 6-to-8 months, plus surviving a terrifying car crash in his Tesla Cybertruck that left him in a medically induced coma, this performance feels like destiny. The hype was real. The wait was worth it. Now comes the fun part.