Alijah Arenas is giving USC basketball fans an early look at what could be ahead this season. The son of former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas delivered an encouraging performance Friday night, scoring 17 points in USC’s 88-70 exhibition loss to North Carolina at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro. Although the Trojans couldn’t come away with the victory, Arenas provided several promising moments in his highly anticipated preseason debut.
The sophomore guard finished 7-for-15 from the field, including 2-for-5 from beyond the arc, while adding four assists in 35 minutes. For a player who faced numerous challenges during his freshman season, the opportunity to begin a new year healthy and contribute immediately represents an important step in the right direction. Arenas arrived at USC as a highly regarded five-star recruit, carrying significant expectations because of his basketball talent and famous last name.
However, his first year with the Trojans didn’t go according to plan. After surviving a serious car accident in April 2025, Arenas suffered a knee injury that delayed the beginning of his college basketball career. He eventually made his debut in January 2026, but additional injury concerns prevented him from experiencing a full freshman season.
Despite those setbacks, Arenas demonstrated why he had been considered one of the nation’s most promising young guards. He averaged 14.1 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists across 14 appearances, making 13 starts. His strongest performances came toward the end of the season, when he scored at least 20 points in three consecutive games against Indiana, Penn State and Ohio State.
That stretch included a 29-point outing against Indiana and a game-winning basket against Penn State. Now, with a new season approaching, Arenas has another opportunity to establish himself as a key contributor for head coach Eric Musselman. Friday’s exhibition offered an early glimpse of that potential.
USC opened the game aggressively, jumping out to a 10-3 lead before North Carolina began to find its rhythm. The Tar Heels eventually moved in front midway through the first half, but Arenas helped keep the Trojans within striking distance. At one point, the sophomore scored six consecutive points for USC as the two teams continued trading baskets.
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