Alijah Arenas Making Long-Awaited Debut for USC Basketball Tonight
Alijah Arenas, one of USC’s most anticipated freshmen, made his highly awaited USC basketball debut on January 22, 2026, against Northwestern after months of rehabilitation from a torn meniscus and a serious car accident in 2025. First bucket, a trademark finger roll lay up, was something to cheer about as the five-star guard of Chatsworth High school registered 29 minutes, 8 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists even as the Trojans lost by 74 to 68. This USC basketball debut injects fresh optimism into the injury-hit roster during Big Ten play, showcasing his scoring flair and playmaking potential under Coach Eric Musselman. His strength was celebrated by his teammates and supporters and this was a turning point to the 14-5 Trojans.
Road to Recovery: Arenas’ Journey Back to the Court
Arenas’ path to his USC basketball debut involved grueling rehab from a summer knee injury that sidelined him for nine months, compounded by earlier accident recovery. Coming to USC as a McDonalds All-American, he had regained his strength by working out hard in his exercises showing no signs of rust in trainings and receiving approval of his basketball IQ by his coaches. His perseverance changed failures into a success run back.
Game Night: What Fans Can Expect
In this USC basketball debut, Arenas flashed athleticism early but tired late, shooting 3-of-15 from three amid Northwestern’s defense led by Nick Martinelli’s 22 points. The USC came to life courtesy 19 second-half points by Jordan Marsh but the debut brought out the best in Arenas who was versatile. The fans expect him to increase influence in both offense and defense in future games in the Big Ten.
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