Alijah Arenas, a highly touted recruit committed to the University of Southern California’s men’s basketball team, is in a coma following a serious car crash involving a Tesla Cybertruck early Thursday morning.
The 18-year-old guard, who recently led Chatsworth High School to the CIF Division II state championship game, was injured when the vehicle struck a fire hydrant and a tree near Corbin Avenue and Blythe Street in the Reseda neighbourhood of Los Angeles at approximately 4:56 a.m.
LAPD Officer Rosario Cervantes confirmed the crash and said the driver was transported to a local hospital in stable condition.
A source familiar with the incident revealed that Arenas is in a coma and that drugs or alcohol are not believed to be factors.
Video footage first shared by TMZ showed a damaged Cybertruck at the scene, with water gushing from the broken hydrant.
Bystanders can be seen attempting to help the teen, who is shown lying face down in the street before trying to get up. A voice can be heard urging him to “wake up.”
Photos shared later show the Cybertruck wrapped around a tree with extensive damage, including shattered windows and a crumpled “no parking” sign. The vehicle reportedly caught fire later at a tow yard, prompting a response from Los Angeles hazardous materials teams.
Arenas is the son of former NBA star Gilbert Arenas and reality TV personality Laura Govan. Govan requested prayers via Instagram shortly after the crash, while Gilbert cancelled a planned online broadcast.
Ranked among the top 10 basketball recruits in the nation, Arenas recently played in the McDonald’s All-American game. He had committed to USC in January, selecting the Trojans over Arizona, Kansas, and Kentucky.
USC head coach Eric Musselman said in a statement, “Our thoughts and prayers are with Alijah and his family following this morning’s accident.”
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