Top Recruit Alijah Arenas Chooses USC Over Kentucky

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Alijah Arenas, the highly touted son of former NBA star Gilbert Arenas, announced Thursday that he will play college basketball at the University of Southern California, bypassing Kentucky and other top programs.

The 6-foot-4 guard from Chatsworth High School in California revealed his decision during a televised announcement. Kentucky was among the five finalists for the McDonald’s All-American, alongside USC, UCLA, Kansas, and Texas.

Arenas, who recently reclassified from the 2026 to the 2025 recruiting class, is ranked as the No. 10 overall prospect by On3 and 247 Sports, while ESPN places him at No. 12. Rivals has yet to rank him for 2025 but still lists him as a five-star recruit.

Kentucky head coach Mark Pope had hoped to secure Arenas after missing out on another top target, Caleb Wilson. However, Arenas never visited Lexington, and his commitment to USC leaves Kentucky focusing on other prospects, including Nate Ament, to round out their 2025 class.

Despite the setback, Kentucky is expected to remain active in the transfer portal. This marks Pope’s first full offseason with the program, giving him more time to build his roster.

“We respect Alijah’s decision and wish him the best at USC,” a Kentucky spokesperson said. “Our staff is committed to bringing in the right players to compete at the highest level.”

Arenas’ decision underscores the competitive nature of college basketball recruiting, where top programs vie for elite talent to bolster their rosters. USC, under head coach Andy Enfield, continues to strengthen its program with high-profile recruits like Arenas.