Gilbert Arenas' Son Alijah Officially Becomes USC Trojans Player—Highest-Ranked Recruit So Far?

Alijah Arenas, one of the nation's top five-star prospects in basketball and the son of NBA legend Gilbert Arenas, has made his decision. The high school gunner is joining the USC Trojans.

The 6-foot-6 combo guard announced on Thursday, Jan. 30, in quite dramatic fashion during a podcast done by his father called "Gil's Arena."

Alijah made his pledge during the live podcast by calling his future head coach, Eric Musselman, to share the exciting news. Moments later, he unzipped his jacket, revealing a USC Trojans jersey, confirming his decision to play for the program.

USC Beats Out Top Programs for Alijah Arenas

Gilbert Arenas' Son Alijah Officially Becomes USC Trojans Player—Highest-Ranked Recruit

The 17-year-old star chose USC, which was not an easy choice for him, having received offers from powerhouse basketball programs such as Arizona, Kansas, and Kentucky. According to The Score, he opted to stay close to home and join Coach Musselman's squad, making him the highest-ranked recruit in the coach's tenure at USC.

The news sparked a surge of cheers from the podcast crew, including former NBA player and USC alum Nick Young, who was ecstatic to see another top-tier talent join the Trojans.

With his elite scoring ability and physical presence, Alijah has made himself known as one of the top young prospects in the country. He averaged 31.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game over three varsity seasons, making him a great addition to USC's future.

Basketball Talent Runs in the Arenas Family

Truly, no one can deny that basketball runs in the Arenas' blood. Gilbert Arenas, a three-time NBA All-Star and former Washington Wizards standout, has been an influence on Alijah's journey. However, the elder Arenas has admitted he no longer plays one-on-one with his son—acknowledging just how dominant the young star has become.

"You go celebrate with your family. Cannot wait ... thanks for trusting us! Love that you're staying in Los Angeles!" Musselman shouted, as TMZ Sports reported.

With his commitment locked in, Alijah is all set to make a major impact at USC. His arrival has added a huge boost to the USC Trojans' roster, so the expectations are high as he prepares to take his talents to the college stage.

Will Alijah live up to the hype as one of the highest recruits in high school basketball, or could they surpass Agent Zero's achievements? These are two questions that people might be thinking about regarding the younger arenas at the moment. Only time will tell if he can be a bigger star than he could imagine.