LOS ANGELES — Alijah Arenas, a promising basketball recruit from Southern California and son of ex-NBA star Gilbert Arenas, has left the hospital following a week after being involved in a serious car accident. His family shared the uplifting news on Wednesday.
“Alijah Arenas is now out of the hospital and comfortably resting under careful observation,” the family communicated in a statement to ESPN. “As he begins his path to full recovery, his spirit is unwavering, and he is encompassed by love and support. The Govan and Arenas family are braced for the journey ahead with faith and perseverance, determined to restore Alijah to full health. His resilience and upbeat attitude remain his strengths.”
Josiah Johnson, who co-hosts Gilbert Arenas’ podcast, mentioned that Alijah didn’t sustain major injuries but was initially placed in a medically induced coma. According to Johnson, Alijah was on his way back from the gym when he “lost control” of the Tesla Cybertruck he was driving in Reseda, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley. The Los Angeles Fire Department reported that the vehicle collided with either a tree or a fire hydrant. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Arenas, having committed to the University of Southern California Trojans in January, is a student at Chatsworth High. As a five-star recruit, he notably became the first male player in the area to surpass 3,000 career points in basketball.