Impact of Freshman Class on Men’s College Basketball
The men’s college basketball landscape for the 2025-26 season has been significantly influenced by an impressive freshman class, notably featuring several prospects expected to be selected in the upcoming NBA draft. Leading this cohort are AJ Dybantsa from BYU and Cameron Boozer from Duke, both of whom rank among the top five scorers nationally and are frontrunners for the national player of the year honors while playing pivotal roles for their respective top-15 teams. North Carolina’s Caleb Wilson, a versatile 6-foot-10 forward, has also made headlines, averaging close to 20 points along with 10 rebounds per match.
Injury Challenges and Emerging Talents
Despite injuries that have kept him sidelined for a good portion of the season, Darryn Peterson, the highest-rated recruit, has managed to showcase his talents at Kansas with an impressive average of 21.6 points per game. Unexpected successes have also emerged from lower-ranked players, such as Stanford’s Ebuka Okorie, who, despite being rated No. 119 on 247Sports, ranks ninth in scoring among all Division I players.
Alijah Arenas: A Legacy Player Returns
On the horizon, anticipation builds as Alijah Arenas, a highly touted recruit from the 2025 class, is ready to hit the court for USC this Wednesday, January 21, against Northwestern. Arenas, who stands 6-foot-6, had been out of play since July due to a torn meniscus sustained during a summer practice. This injury was compounded by a serious car accident in April that left him in a coma for a brief period.
Arenas will join a USC roster currently at 14-4 under coach Eric Musselman, although the team has stumbled recently with three losses in five games, all against top 10 opponents. His presence could offer crucial depth and skill to a team keen to regain its momentum.
Family Legacy and High School Achievements
In terms of heritage, Alijah Arenas comes from a basketball lineage; he is the son of Gilbert Arenas, a former NBA All-Star. Alijah’s mother, Laura Govan, played college basketball at New Mexico State, and his older sister, Izela, is making her mark as a guard at Kansas State. Numerous freshmen this season are also following in their father’s footsteps in the sport, further underscoring a trend of legacy athletes in college basketball.
During his time at Chatsworth High School, Arenas established himself as a prolific scorer, accumulating a remarkable 3,002 points over three seasons, earning him a spot in the 2025 McDonald’s All-American Game.
Resilience and Recovery
After announcing his injury last summer, USC emphasized Arenas’s hard work and resilience through rehabilitation.
“His health is our top concern, and we trust that he will return even stronger,”
Coach Musselman commented at that time. Fortunately, his recovery has been rapid, allowing him to return just under six months post-injury.
In addition to dealing with his knee injury, Arenas faced a life-threatening situation in a car accident that resulted in his Tesla catching fire, but he was fortunately rescued by passersby and subsequently treated at a hospital. His perseverance throughout the recovery process reveals his commitment to the game and his determination to contribute to the team.
Looking Ahead
Arenas is 18 years old and will celebrate his 19th birthday on March 16. He reclassified to the 2025 recruiting class last December, so basketball fans are eagerly awaiting his debut performance tonight.
