{"id":18175,"date":"2025-07-09T12:03:18","date_gmt":"2025-07-09T19:03:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/los-angeles\/uscs-alijah-arenas-should-be-cleared-to-begin-practicing-thursday\/"},"modified":"2025-07-09T12:03:19","modified_gmt":"2025-07-09T19:03:19","slug":"uscs-alijah-arenas-should-be-cleared-to-begin-practicing-thursday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/los-angeles\/uscs-alijah-arenas-should-be-cleared-to-begin-practicing-thursday\/","title":{"rendered":"USC’s Alijah Arenas should be cleared to begin practicing Thursday"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction to Alijah Arenas<\/h1>\n

Background and Expectations<\/h2>\n

After surviving a fiery car wreck and successfully skipping his final year of high school to enroll at USC, incoming star freshman Alijah Arenas should be cleared to join the team for practice on Thursday, coach Eric Musselman confirmed. The five-star guard arrives at USC this summer as the most highly anticipated recruit of Musselman\u2019s tenure. Musselman \u2014 who coached Arenas\u2019 father, Gilbert, with the Golden State Warriors \u2014 has said on multiple occasions that he expects Arenas to be a difference-maker as a freshman.<\/p>\n

Overcoming Challenges<\/h2>\n

The question now is how quickly Arenas can get up to speed after missing the first month of summer practice with a team that was totally rebuilt through the transfer portal. USC\u2019s coach certainly isn\u2019t concerned about Arenas fitting in. Since arriving on campus, Musselman said, Arenas has made a point to follow the coach around on the court during practice. \u201cI think he knows the offense, on paper, maybe better than anyone on our team,\u201d Musselman said. \u201cHe\u2019s got an innate ability to kind of see things in a different manner.<\/p>\n

Adaptation and Learning<\/h3>\n

\u201cI would anticipate him picking it up really quick because he\u2019s come into our office. He\u2019s diagramming stuff during practice. He\u2019s talking to managers and GA\u2019s about where he should be on the floor.\u201d This level of engagement and eagerness to learn is a positive sign for his integration into the team.<\/p>\n

Personal Triumph Over Adversity<\/h2>\n

It was a harrowing few months for Arenas leading up to him being cleared at USC. One early morning in late April, he lost control of his Tesla Cybertruck and hit a tree. The car burst into flames, leaving him trapped inside. He was ultimately saved by a pair of good Samaritans who happened to be nearby, but Arenas would spend six days in the hospital before returning home, miraculously, without any lasting injuries.<\/p>\n

Medical Clearance and Joining the Team<\/h3>\n

After finishing his high school classwork so he could graduate a year early, Arenas underwent final medical testing at USC this week, Musselman said. He\u2019ll join at the halfway mark for the Trojans\u2019 summer practice session.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h1>\n

Alijah Arenas’s journey to joining the USC team has been marked by both anticipation and adversity. With his expected clearance to practice, fans and the team alike look forward to seeing how his skills will contribute to the team’s dynamics, especially given his eagerness to learn and adapt.<\/p>\n

FAQs<\/h1>\n