5-star guard Alijah Arenas, son of former Arizona standout Gilbert Arenas, is considering Tucson as his potential college destination. He is a highly ranked player in the 2026 class, known for his scoring ability and currently playing as a shooting guard at Chatsworth Charter High School. Despite being a high school sophomore, he has garnered attention from top programs and already received scholarship offers from Arizona, Kansas, Texas, and UCLA. His recent comments indicate a strong connection to Arizona, describing the university as feeling like home and praising the team's playing style and camaraderie.

By the Numbers
  • Alijah Arenas averaged 33 points per game and shot 49.4% from the field for Chatsworth Charter High School.
  • He is ranked as the No. 3 overall player and No. 1 shooting guard in the 2026 class by 247Sports Composite rankings.
Yes, But

While Alijah Arenas expresses a strong affinity for Arizona, his father, Gilbert Arenas, had previously expressed reservations about the university's hiring decisions. However, he later softened his stance after getting to know Arizona's coach, Tommy Lloyd, during his son's recruitment process.

State of Play
  • Alijah Arenas has visited both Arizona and UCLA to watch games, but he has explicitly mentioned that Arizona "feels like home" due to the strong relationship with the coaching staff.
  • Gilbert Arenas, Alijah's father, had previously criticized Arizona's hiring decisions but later revised his opinion after developing a better understanding of the coach through his son's recruitment.
What's Next

As Alijah Arenas continues his recruiting process, the atmosphere and fan support in the college environment will play a significant role in his decision-making, indicating that these aspects are pivotal for him.

Bottom Line

Alijah Arenas' interest in Arizona and the emphasis on the college atmosphere and crowd support bodes well for the university's potential recruitment of the highly touted prospect and son of Arizona's former standout player, Gilbert Arenas.