Alijah Arenas Makes Long-Awaited USC Debut, Shows Glimpses of Star Potential Despite Rust
LOS ANGELES - The Alijah Arenas era at USC has officially begun.
After missing the first 18 games of the season, the five-star freshman guard finally took the floor Wednesday night against Northwestern - and head coach Eric Musselman didn’t hesitate to throw him straight into the fire, slotting Arenas into the starting lineup for his collegiate debut.
It wasn’t a storybook start - USC dropped a tough 74-68 decision - but the night offered a glimpse of what the Trojans hope will be a game-changing presence for the rest of the season. Arenas, playing in his first organized game in nine months, looked every bit like a player shaking off rust.
He finished with eight points on 3-of-15 shooting in 29 minutes, missing all six of his three-point attempts and four of six free throws. But even with the inefficiency, there were flashes - and they were loud.
After missing his first three shots, Arenas got on the board with a smooth one-dribble pull-up from the right baseline. Moments later, he delivered the kind of play that turns heads - a spinning layup in traffic that sent a Northwestern defender sprawling to the hardwood. The move had the crowd buzzing and served as a reminder of why he was one of the most coveted recruits in the country.
This wasn’t just another freshman debut. For USC fans, it was one of the most anticipated Trojan first looks since O.J.
Mayo donned cardinal and gold - and certainly more impactful from a basketball perspective than the media spectacle surrounding Bronny James. But like James, Arenas' debut had been delayed by a summer setback.
In his case, a serious car accident over the summer limited him until late July. Just as he was starting to find his rhythm in practice, he suffered a torn meniscus that required surgery and a six-month recovery.
Now finally healthy, Arenas steps into a USC backcourt that’s been waiting for his arrival - and depending on him to elevate its ceiling.
Musselman didn’t shy away from what Arenas represents. The 6-foot-6 guard from Chatsworth, California, was his first five-star signee at USC and was expected to be the team’s primary ball handler and offensive engine.
Ranked No. 10 in the 2025 class before reclassifying, Arenas should technically still be in high school. Instead, he's been thrust into the middle of Big Ten play with no non-conference tune-ups and just a handful of full practices under his belt.
“When you do this long enough and you inject a super talented player, the results are not shocking to me,” Musselman said postgame. “He took a lot of shots in his minutes, but he can create his own shot.
He should also be a high school senior. So he reclassified, then missed an entire summer, and we’re throwing him into Big Ten play.
It’s a difficult thing for any super talented player to go through.”
That context matters. This isn’t just a freshman trying to find his footing - it’s a player with elite upside being asked to fast-track his development in one of the most physical conferences in college basketball.
The expectations are high, and so are the stakes. USC’s postseason hopes could hinge on how quickly Arenas can settle in and become the offensive catalyst Musselman envisioned during the recruiting process.
There’s no doubt the tools are there. Arenas has the size, the handle, and the scoring instincts to be a matchup nightmare.
He already showed an ability to get to the rim and draw defensive attention - even if the finishing touch wasn’t quite there yet. He had a transition dunk rim out early in the second half, the kind of play that will fall more often once his legs are back under him.
For now, it’s about patience and perspective. Arenas is still shaking off the rust, adjusting to the speed of the college game, and learning to lead a team that’s been searching for a spark. But if Wednesday night was any indication, that spark might not be far off.
The Alijah Arenas era has begun - and while it may take a few games to fully ignite, the potential is already impossible to ignore.