Alijah Arenas, Son of Former NBA Star, in Coma After Severe Car Crash

Alijah Arenas, the 18-year-old son of former NBA star Gilbert Arenas, is in a medically induced coma following a serious car accident.

The incident occurred early Thursday morning when Alijah crashed his Tesla Cybertruck in Los Angeles, leaving the vehicle severely damaged and abandoned on the roadside, according to TMZ. Emergency responders arrived at the scene at 4:55 AM after receiving a call about a “trapped patient,” but when they arrived, everyone had already exited the vehicle.

The crash resulted in the Cybertruck catching fire, and Alijah was found unresponsive at the scene. Despite this, the young prospect—who is ranked as a five-star recruit—has remained a standout in the basketball world. He was expected to graduate high school in 2026 but reclassified to the class of 2025 to join USC’s basketball team next season.

Alijah, who had already turned down offers from top schools such as Arizona, Kansas, Kentucky, and Louisville, committed to USC on January 30, citing the university as the best fit for his career.

“I’m someone who loves to laugh and have fun, and I want to make others smile wherever I go,” Alijah shared with Sports Illustrated earlier this month.

Alijah’s commitment to USC was further solidified after visiting the campus and meeting with the coach. He starred in the recent McDonald’s All-American Game, scoring 11 points, and played for Chatsworth High School in Southern California.