How USC Landed Chatsworth 5-Star Guard Alijah Arenas
A Monumental Decision
On Thursday afternoon, Eric Musselman found out the future of his USC basketball program was going to drastically change – at the same time as thousands of viewers on YouTube. They do things differently on “Gil’s Arena,” as host Josiah Johnson said, a podcast run by former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas. And on Thursday, as Gilbert brought son Alijah Arenas out to announce a monumental collegiate decision, the five-star Chatsworth High senior pulled out his phone to FaceTime the coach of his future program.
A Phone Call to Remember
He rung Musselman, in the midst of USC’s head coach’s preparation for Thursday’s practice, and delivered the news: He was committing to USC. “WHAT!?” Musselman shouted, predictably sparing not one drop of energy. “Let’s go! Are you serious? Let’s go!”
A Long Time Coming
It was a worthy reaction, as Musselman and USC’s staff have spent a series of long months since April trying to gain a foothold with a slew of local talent. And after the Trojans landed St. John Bosco guard Elzie Harrington at the end of December, Musselman’s rebuild is suddenly on the fast-track with Arenas’ pledge, a 6-foot-6 standout guard who’s lit up Los Angeles City Section basketball for years.
A Focus on Local Talent
To be successful at USC, Musselman has said publicly, his staff needed to recruit L.A. The second day they arrived in Los Angeles from Arkansas, they called Harrington, who committed to Harvard in June before flipping to USC in December with a desire to remain closer to home. And as soon as the NCAA’s permissible period for programs to contact high school sophomores began in June, USC was there at Chatsworth the “first available day” they could reach out, as Chatsworth coach Sam Harris recalled.
A Personal Connection
Musselman, Arenas’ trainer Zach Becerra said, would call Arenas at random times on random days, their conversation dipping well beyond basketball. One day, Becerra remembered, Arenas was on the phone with Musselman for an hour talking about his dogs and training them. “Musselman,” Becerra said, “has been all over him.”
A Natural Fit
Arenas, too, was present for USC’s clash with UCLA on Monday night. The Trojans lost 82-76 to the Bruins on their home floor at Galen Center, but they won the battle for a prized local recruit, with Musselman commenting postgame that he hoped anyone in attendance would note how hard his program was competing in Year One under his regime.
A Bright Future Ahead
There is little tangible foundation for Musselman to sell to recruits, at the moment, beyond a group that simply competes and his own track record. USC sits at 12-8 and in the middle of the Big Ten pack at 4-5; most key players from this year’s transfer-heavy roster will be gone come 2025-26. But Musselman had a natural tie to Arenas, coaching father Gilbert in 2002-03 while the head coach of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors. And the 6-foot-6 Arenas fits snugly with Musselman’s love for versatility, a wing capable of playing or guarding one-through-five, as Harris described.
A Track Record of Success
And Musselman, in part, sold Arenas on his track record of developing one-and-done guard talent for the NBA, Becerra said. There was Moses Moody at Arkansas in 2020-21, and Anthony Black and Nick Smith Jr. in 2022-23. “Musselman has a great history of five-star guys going there and playing high-level minutes as freshmen, being able to have the freedom to play through mistakes,” Becerra said.
A Conclusion
Arenas chose USC over an expressed final five of Kentucky, Arizona, Louisville, and Kansas, all programs that can tout either more successful seasons or a longer national track record of success. But he’d done the same thing, in many ways, in high school, as Harris said: Arenas has spent three years at a City Section program in Chatsworth, eschewing an easy opportunity to transfer to a high-profile Southern Section program or prep school. “I think it’s kind of his personality to just, not essentially join forces but to like, make his name,” Harris said of Arenas. “And be a part of something that’s out of the norm, you know?”
FAQs
* What is the significance of USC landing Alijah Arenas?
+ USC has landed a top recruit in the class of 2025, a 5-star guard from Chatsworth High School.
* What is the background of Alijah Arenas?
+ Arenas is a 6-foot-6 standout guard who has lit up Los Angeles City Section basketball for years.
* What is the significance of Eric Musselman’s track record in developing one-and-done guard talent for the NBA?
+ Musselman has a history of developing five-star guards who go on to play high-level minutes as freshmen and have the freedom to play through mistakes.
* What is the future of USC’s basketball program with Arenas on board?
+ USC’s program is solidifying, with a potential one-and-done recruit and a top-ranked class of 2025.
