It was a moment to remember on Gil’s Arena when five-star recruit Alijah Arenas made his college commitment by FaceTiming USC head coach Eric Musselman live on air. The son of former NBA star Gilbert Arenas, Alijah had his father right by his side, making the moment even more special. But the excitement didn’t stop there. Former NBA star Matt Barnes wasted no time celebrating the young guard’s big decision.
Right after the news broke, Barnes took to Instagram to show his support. He shared an image of Alijah in his USC jersey, with a heartfelt message on his IG story “Congrats bro @alijah0arenas ,” Barnes wrote.
Alijah, who reclassified from the 2026 class to 2025, is ranked No. 10 overall in his class, according to 247Sports.com. He had powerhouse programs like Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, and Arizona chasing after him, but ultimately, USC won out.
At 6-foot-6, Alijah is more than just a name. This season, he earned McDonald’s All-American honors after putting up jaw-dropping numbers: 31.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. He’s also the first McDonald’s All-American from the LA City Section since 2009, a testament to his dominance.
But this isn’t just a big moment for Alijah. It’s a full-circle moment for his father too.
Chatsworth’s Alijah Arenas (0) looks to make a pass during the game against Western Christian in the Capitol City Classic on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024 in Salem, Ore.
Back in 2002-03, Gilbert Arenas played for Eric Musselman when Musselman was the head coach of the Golden State Warriors.
Now, over two decades later, Musselman gets to coach another Arenas—this time, a young star with sky-high potential. And if Musselman’s reaction during the FaceTime call was any indication, he’s more than ready to help Alijah shine.
Alijah caught USC’s coach off guard with FaceTime commitment
Eric Musselman has wasted no time making waves in Los Angeles. In under a year as USC’s head coach, he’s already secured one of the top 2025 high school prospects. But even with his recruiting success, nothing could have prepared him for how Alijah Arenas decided to announce his commitment.
During an episode of Gil’s Arena, Alijah FaceTimed Musselman live to break the news. And the coach’s reaction was priceless.
“Let’s gooooooo!” Musselman shouted into the phone. “You go celebrate with your family and I’m gonna go celebrate with the coaches and call you in a little bit… Thanks for trusting us. Love it that you’re staying in Los Angeles, California!”
“Fight on,” Alijah replied. “Yes sir, coach.”
But why Alijah choose USC? “It felt like the best fit,” Alijah said. “Going on campus, seeing at what USC is like made me feel special. I talked to the coach later on and seeing what I could possibly be was just amazing.” With powerhouse programs like Kansas and Kentucky after him, his choice speaks volumes about the confidence he has in the Trojans.
The 17-year-old will be suiting up for USC next season—way sooner than expected.
The post Matt Barnes Reacts to Alijah Arenas’ College Commitment After USC Coach Gets Facetimed Live on Gil’s Arena appeared first on EssentiallySports.
