College Basketball

USC commit Alijah Arenas, son of Gilbert Arenas, is 'much better' days after accident

Updated Apr. 28, 2025 6:22 p.m. ET

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USC basketball recruit Alijah Arenas, the son of former NBA star Gilbert Arenas, is walking, talking and "doing much better" after he was involved in a fiery vehicle accident late last week, Josiah Johnson shared on the latest episode of "Gil's Arena."

"He should be released from the hospital very soon," Johnson said on "Gil's Arena," a podcast that's co-hosted by Gilbert Arenas. 

Arenas was taken to the hospital and went into a medically induced coma after the accident occurred on Thursday morning. He emerged out of the induced coma on Friday and his status began to improve, according to a prior statement released by his family.

The 18-year-old Arenas remained intubated, but his family told ESPN that he showed "significant signs of progress" throughout the day on Friday. He was also able to open his eyes and write on a piece of paper part of what happened in the accident.

The family said Arenas remembered the smoke from the crash and wrote to ask, "Did anyone get hurt?"

The Los Angeles Police Department said officers responded shortly before 5 a.m. Thursday to a single-vehicle collision in the Reseda area of the San Fernando Valley. The LA Fire Department further said the vehicle was a Tesla Cybertruck that crashed into a tree and a fire hydrant with fire involved.

No cause of the crash has been released.

The family expressed its gratitude to those who have helped Arenas and said further updates would be shared "as Alijah continues to heal."

Arenas is attending Chatsworth High School in Los Angeles, where he became the first prep boys' player to score 3,000 career points.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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