(BCSNN) — USC freshman guard Alijah Arenas, one of the most heralded recruits in the nation, will miss significant time after suffering a torn meniscus in his right knee, the school announced. The injury, which occurred during practice, will require surgery and is expected to sideline Arenas for six to eight months, putting his entire 2025–26 season in jeopardy.

Arenas, the son of former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas, arrived at USC with high expectations. Ranked No. 10 nationally by 247Sports and the top shooting guard in the 2025 class, the 6-foot-6 standout was projected to be a centerpiece for head coach Eric Musselman’s squad. Musselman, entering his second season with the Trojans, expressed disappointment over the setback but emphasized the program’s commitment to Arenas’ recovery. “Alijah is a tremendous worker, teammate, competitor, and person,” Musselman said. “His health is our No. 1 priority. We have no doubt that he will come back even stronger”.

The injury marks the second major health scare for Arenas in recent months. In April, he was involved in a serious car accident when his Tesla Cybertruck crashed into a fire hydrant and tree in Southern California. The vehicle caught fire, and Arenas was briefly placed in a medically induced coma due to smoke inhalation. He was released from the hospital within a week and had recently been cleared to return to basketball activities.

Arenas starred at Chatsworth High School in Los Angeles, where he reclassified from the 2026 class to 2025 to accelerate his college career. He finished his prep tenure as the all-time leading scorer in CIF LA City Section history with over 3,000 points and earned McDonald’s All-American honors. His senior season included a 56-point performance at The Classic at Damien tournament and a trip to the CIF Division II state title game.

The injury is a significant blow to a USC team looking to rebound from a 17–18 campaign and a second consecutive absence from the NCAA tournament. Arenas was expected to start alongside transfers Rodney Rice (Maryland) and Chad Baker-Mazara (Auburn), forming a revamped backcourt for the Trojans.

Despite the setback, Arenas remains a projected first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. His recovery timeline suggests a possible return late in the season, but given his draft stock and recent health challenges, a redshirt year remains a possibility. For now, USC and its fans will have to wait to see the dynamic guard in action.