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Alijah Arenas’ loved ones are navigating a terrifying accident.
The 18-year-old son of former NBA player Gilbert Arenas was hospitalized April 24 after being involved in a fiery Tesla Cybertruck crash in LA’s San Fernando Valley, NBC News 4 Los Angeles reported, citing a law enforcement officer with knowledge of the situation.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, per the outlet, police responded shortly before 5 a.m. to a single-vehicle collision that saw the Cybertruck collide head-on with a tree and possibly fire hydrant. The Los Angeles Fire Department, per NBC News 4, said an 18-year-old male was hospitalized following the crash in serious but stable condition.
Alijah was reportedly placed into a medically induced coma to treat his injuries, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, citing sources, adding initial tests indicated the University of Southern California recruit had not suffered broken bones.
E! News has reached out to reps for Gilbert for comment but has not yet heard back.
According to NBC News 4, citing law enforcement, it is unclear what caused Alijah’s crash at this time, though the initial investigation is focusing on possible excessive speed as a contributing cause.
While Gilbert has not yet addressed his son’s accident, the former NBA professional cancelled the Aril 24 episode of his Gil’s Arena podcast and Underdog Fantasy, the podcast’s parent company, wrote on X, “Our hearts are with our friend and Underdog partner Gilbert Arenas in this difficult moment. We ask the Gil’s Arena and Underdog communities to please keep Alijah and the entire family in your thoughts.”
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Alijah’s mother Laura Govan, meanwhile, wrote on Instagram, alongside a string of praying hand emojis, “I need all your f–ken[sic] prayers.”
Alijah, named one of 48 players selected to play in McDonald’s All-American Games, is considered one of the most promising high school basketball recruits in the country. He is one of only a small number of high school players in California basketball history to score 3,000 points, and in January he committed to play for the Trojans at the University of Southern California.
Following news of the accident, USC men’s basketball coach Eric Musselman shared a message about his recruit.
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“Our thoughts and prayers are with Alijah and his family following this morning’s accident,” Eric wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “Please keep him, his teammates and friends, and the entire Arenas family in your prayers.”
(E! and NBC News are part of the NBCUniversal family.)
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