5-star USC commit Arenas to miss at least 6-8 months with knee injury

USC guard Alijah Arenas is expected to miss at least six-to-eight months after being diagnosed with a knee injury that will require surgery, the school announced Wednesday.

The five-star Trojans commit sustained a torn meniscus and could miss the entire 2025-26 campaign, sources told NBA insider Chris Haynes.

Arenas, the son of three-time NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas, was the third-ranked shooting guard and No. 13 overall prospect on the ESPN 100 for 2025. The California native committed to USC over Kentucky, Louisville, and Arizona.

Arenas was expected to play a key role in helping the Trojans bounce back from a 17-18 campaign.

The knee injury is the latest setback for the McDonald's All-American. Arenas was involved in a car crash last April and placed into a medically induced coma due to smoke inhalation. The 18-year-old suffered no major injuries in the accident, but spent six days in the hospital before being released.

Arenas participated in his first practice with USC earlier this month, according to ESPN's Jeff Borzello.