The son of the perennial NBA All-Star opted to stay at USC, which can alter the Nets plans here.
The Brooklyn Nets have a growing NBA draft board ahead of the lottery pairings on May 10.
Names like Cameron Boozer of Duke, Darryn Peterson of Kansas, Darius Acuff of Arkansas and AJ Dybantsa of BYU are all linked as potential future Nets. But can't forget about the possible second rounders who can fall to Brooklyn.
Alijah Arenas walked into this 2026 class hearing pro chatter.
On Tuesday, the son of Gilbert Arenas announced he would return to USC.
Arenas withdrew his name from NBA draft consideration and will head back to Southern Cal for his sophomore season.
Arenas showed the stardom that made him a coveted five-star talent out of Chatsworth High near Los Angeles late in the season for the Trojans. USC head coach Eric Musselman rolled with Arenas when he became healthy enough to suit up, starting 13 of the final 14 games. He delivered 14.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game when out there on the floor.
But his CBB journey started with a serious car accident that left him in an induced coma. Arenas crashed a Tesla Cybertruck into a fire hydrant/tree at 4:55 a.m. PT before the season began. He got cleared to practice in July but needed to miss 18 games due injuries from that accident.
So how does Arenas' decision impacts the Nets here?
Brooklyn could've swooped up a potential second round talent had Arenas stayed in the 2026 draft pool. He presents the same build and look of his all-star father including having his scoring touch.
This Arenas showed more quickness on the floor and presents physical tools that are translatable to the NBA. He's a three-level scorer who beats defenses with a jumper and playing above the rim.
He’s brings a smooth mid range game too, using a change of pace style plus hits defenders with a variety of moves to shake free for his jumper.
But Arenas started earning a second round grade due to his limited play during his freshman season. He still could've been a possible option at the No. 33 pick had he stayed in the draft pool.
Brooklyn still must decide between frontcourt help or a scoring guard with its first pick. Once again, the lottery pairings will dictate the Nets' placement in the first round. Brooklyn held a 14-percent chance of landing the top pick, handing it one of the highest odds alongside the Washington Wizards and Indiana Pacers.
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