Alijah Arenas, the Los Angeles Daily News boys basketball player of the year, was seriously injured in a Thursday morning car accident.
Chatsworth boys basketball coach Sam Harris confirmed Arenas was in the accident.
Los Angeles Police Department spokeswoman Officer Rosario Cervantes confirmed that LAPD responded to a vehicle into a fire hydrant and tree at 4:55 a.m. and that an 18-year-old was taken to the hospital.
The Los Angeles Fire Department also responded to the crash, which involved a Tesla Cybertruck in the 7900 block of Corbin Avenue in Reseda, and confirmed that the solo occupant of the vehicle was already out of the vehicle when firefighters arrived and was in serious condition, according to LAFD spokeswoman Margaret Stewart.
ESPN’s Shams Charania was first to report the accident and said Arenas had been placed in an induced coma.
Alijah Arenas is committed to play for USC next season and is the son of former NBA star Gilbert Arenas.
Alijah Arenas led Chatsworth to back-to-back CIF State SoCal Regional titles (Division IV in 2023-24 and Division II in 2024-25). The Chancellors made two straight CIF State finals appearances and they reached the City Section Open Division final this year. He averaged 30.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.1 steals per game this season and was the first player in the CIF LA City Section to reach the 3,000-point mark, doing it in just three seasons.
He is considered the No. 13 recruit in the nation for the 2025 class.
Dan Lovi contributed to this report.
