USC Trojans head coach Eric Musselman received fantastic news for his program last night as Alijah Arenas withdrew from the 2026 NBA draft and is heading back to Los Angeles, per Jordan Richard of Swishcultures.
“Alijah Arenas will withdraw from the NBA draft and return to USC, a source says,” Ryan Kartje of the Los Angeles Times said via X. “That’s big news for Eric Musselman and the Trojans.”
Alijah Arenas Returns To USC After Withdrawing From NBA Draft
Arenas, son of former NBA guard Gilbert Arenas, was one of 71 underclassmen to declare for this June’s draft. But hours later, after the list was released, the 6-6 guard withdrew his name. It was a surprise to many that Arenas decided to enter his name in the draft in the first place.
Arenas, the consensus No. 29-rated prospect in 2025, reclassified from the class of 2026 and had his season start delayed. He was induced into a coma after getting into a fiery crash last April and then tore his meniscus in July, which caused him to miss the first 18 games of the campaign.
While Musselman instantly inserted Arenas into the starting lineup when he was cleared, the 19-year-old struggled on the court. Arenas averaged 14.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 27 minutes a game over 14 appearances. Arenas was highly inefficient with shooting splits of 34.1/23.1/79.2, though he did a good job at getting to the free-throw line. He scored in double figures eight times, topping the 20-point mark four times.
USC missed the NCAA Tournament for the third straight year. The Trojans went 18-14 this past season in Musselmann’s second season in Southern California. But the Trojans struggled in Big Ten play, finishing 12th at 7-13.
What Does Arenas’ Return Mean For The Trojans
Arenas’ return was necessary for the Trojans this year if they plan to compete for a top-6 spot in the Big Ten. The Trojans lost five key seniors, including their top two scorers, Chad Baker-Mazara and Ezra Ausar. They also saw six players enter the NCAA transfer portal: Gabe Dynes (Louisville), Jerry Easter (Oregon), and Jordan Marsh.
Arenas is a three-level scorer who is at his best when creating his own offense. Arenas, who can take over games offensively, thrives on putting pressure on the defense. He does have a soft touch on floaters and mid-range jumpers, but needs to work on his shooting mechanics and handles. Defensively, Arenas has the tools to be a solid defender, but still has a lot to learn on that end, especially when off the ball.
Musselman did get the return of Rodney Rice, who averaged 20 points in six games before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. Musselman brought in transfers KJ Lewis, Jalen Cox, and Eric Reibe. The Trojans also have a consensus top-5 recruiting class led by consensus five-star forward Christian Collins (Playa Del Raya, California). Consensus four-star 7-0 twin centers Adonis and Darius Ratliff, who are the sons of former NBA player Theo Ratliff, are the other members of the Trojans 2026 class.
The Trojans are still waiting to see what Jacob Cofie will do. Cofie is one of three Trojans to enter the NBA draft, though he is likely to return to school. The 6-10 forward, who was the consensus No. 91-rated prospect in 2024, showed much improvement in his first season with the Trojans after playing his freshman camapign at Virginia. He totaled 9.9 points, 6.8 rebounds (2.0 offensive), and 1.8 blocks while shooting 51% from the field.
Photo Credit: Kirby Lee, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
