Alijah Arenas, a Southern California basketball recruit and the son of former NBA star Gilbert Arenas, was placed into an induced coma after he crashed a Tesla Cybertruck into a tree and fire hydrant.
Per Newsweek, the crash happened in Los Angeles on Thursday. In a post on X, ESPN Senior NBA Insider Shams Charania described the accident Alijah, 18, was involved in as “serious,” adding that the five-star prospect was “hospitalized and placed into an induced coma.”
Despite the reported severity of the crash, Sports Illustrated‘s Tarek Fattal said that Alijah “suffered no major bodily injuries.”
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“Arenas was in an accident driving a Cyber Truck,” Fattal wrote on X on Thursday. “It caught on fire, and he inhaled a lot of smoke. According to sources, this was the reason for induced coma (protocol for smoke inhalation).”
Per the California Department of Motor Vehicles, the Cybertruck Alijah was driving is registered to his father Gilbert, NBC News reported. Police are investigating if the crash was partly caused by speeding.
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Los Angeles Times USC beat writer Ryan Kartje also reported that the crash was not likely caused by drugs or alcohol, adding that it was rather a result of a loss of control.
In the wake of the crash, Alijah’s father took to Instagram to announce that he had canceled his Gil’s Arena show that was scheduled to take place. “I need all youre [sic] f**ken prayers,” Alijah’s mother, Laura Govan, also wrote on Instagram on Thursday.
Alijah is a student at Chatsworth High School in Los Angeles and is regarded as a top college recruit, ESPN reported. He also received offers from Arizona, Kansas, Kentucky, and Louisville.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Alijah and his family following this morning’s accident. Please keep him, his teammates and friends, and the entire Arenas family in your prayers,” USC men’s basketball coach Eric Musselman wrote in a statement on X.
Former Los Angeles Lakers star and Hall of Famer Magic Johnson also sent some words of support to the Arenas family.
“Cookie and I are praying for a full recovery for Alijah Arenas following his car crash,” Johnson, 65, wrote on X. “We are also praying for the entire Arenas family, especially his dad Gilbert and mom Laura, during this difficult time ????????”
