Major College Basketball Prospect in Induced Coma After Car Crash

Alijah Arenas, a five-star prospect who has committed to playing college basketball at USC, is currently in an induced coma following a serious car crash.

As first reported by ESPN's Shams Charania, Arenas was involved in a car crash at around 4:55 a.m. local time in Los Angeles. Authorities told the outlets that the L.A. Fire Department responded to a call after a Tesla Cybertruck crashed into a tree/fire hydrant. It's unclear what caught on fire, but a blaze was reported.

Authorities did not identify Arenas as the person behind the wheel, only that an 18-year-old driver was transported to the hospital in serious condition. ESPN reports, citing sources, that Arenas was involved in the crash and that he did not suffer any broken bones.

Related: Bronny James Breaks His Silence On Critics With Heartbreaking Admission

Arenas is the son of former NBA star Gilbert Arenas, who played 11 seasons in the NBA and was a three-time All-Star. 

Arenas is a highly-regarded 6-foot-6 shooting guard out of Chatsworth, CA. He's the No. 13th-ranked player in ESPN's Top 100. He's also ranked by 247 Sports as the No. 10 overall player in the 2025 recruiting class. He earned McDonald's All-America honors this past season and scored 11 points for the West team. He considered powerhouse Kansas, Kentucky, Arizona and Louisville before committing to the Trojans.