Alijah Arenas, a five-star recruit and the son of former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas, is showing steady improvement after a serious car accident in April. The USC freshman was injured when his Tesla Cybertruck crashed in Los Angeles’ Reseda neighborhood. Concerns had circulated about the severity of his condition, but USC head coach Eric Musselman recently confirmed encouraging progress in Arenas’ recovery.
Eric Musselman Clarifies Alijah Arenas’ Condition Following Serious Car Accident
USC head coach Eric Musselman recently addressed the condition of Arenas, following a serious car accident in April.
Arenas, who graduated high school a year early to join the Trojans, had been hospitalized after losing control of his Tesla Cybertruck and crashing into a tree in Los Angeles.
The vehicle caught fire, and Arenas required help from bystanders to break the driver’s side window and escape. He was placed in an induced coma due to smoke inhalation, but suffered no major injuries and was discharged in under a week.
Despite these traumatic events, Musselman praised Arenas’ resilience.
“He was so lucky. There was really no injury with arms, legs. It was really the smoke, inhaling the smoke was the biggest and most critical thing in his recovery from the car accident,” Musselman said.
Musselman also highlighted Arenas’ mental toughness and dedication to the team.
“He’s a special, not only, you know, he’s obviously a special basketball talent, but he’s also got a special mentality,” Musselman said.
He explained that Arenas remained engaged with the team’s preparation, helping with game prep, analyzing plays, and asking thoughtful questions.
“He’s grabbing me and asking why we do this and why not that. And so he’s super mentally engaged, and then he’s done a great job attacking his rehab as well.”
Despite further setbacks, including a knee injury after the accident, Arenas has shown remarkable determination.
“Boy, he just needs to just, you know, be in bubble wrap for a little while,” Musselman said. The coach also expressed optimism about Arenas’ long-term prospects, noting the support of teammates and the player’s own structured approach to rehabilitation.
Arenas was expected to start on USC’s perimeter alongside transfers Rodney Rice from Maryland and Chad Baker-Mazara from Auburn. As a McDonald’s All-American and the No. 13 recruit in the ESPN 100, he scored over 3,000 points in just three high school seasons, setting the CIF LA City Section record.
Musselman’s comments underscore Arenas’ resilience and highlight the Trojans’ commitment to supporting the young player as he works toward returning stronger to the court.
