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Five-star shooting guard Alijah Arenas is listed as part of the Class of 2026 as he is still a junior in high school. However, his father, former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas, announced on Monday that his son will reclassify to the Class of 2025 to enter college basketball early.
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While the elder Arenas said that the reclassification has already been approved, some paperwork still needs to be done to make it official, according to 247Sports Eric Bossi.
Although Alijah Arenas is ranked No. 4 by On3 for 2026, he could see his ranking drop when he reclassifies to 2025, as the top spots are held by AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, Darryn Peterson and others.
Meanwhile, teams that have offered him scholarships will now be scrambling to get his commitment, as they previously thought they had more time to recruit him. He plans to visit multiple schools in the spring.
Possible colleges Alijah Arenas could land with should he reclassify
Several schools vying for Arenas' commitment include Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, UCLA and USC. Duke is among the top, as the 6-foot-5 athlete could play alongside the Boozer Twins, Cameron and Cayden, in Durham.
Having grown up in Southern California, USC and UCLA are also up there as favorites for him. Meanwhile, his sister, Izela, plays at Louisville, so there's a chance the two may connect at the same school. Last month, he and his family traveled to France to watch her college debut for the Cardinals.
Another factor is Gilbert Arenas's legacy, which means Alijah Arenas could choose his father's alma mater, Arizona. Often, kids of NBA stars choose their father's alma mater, like the Boozers at Duke and Kiyan Anthony choosing Syracuse.
Despite this, UCLA has come out as the biggest favorite so far, according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine, with a 34.4% chance of getting Alijah's commitment. Not far behind is Gilbert's Arizona, with a 30.1% chance. The third place Fresno State sits at a lowly 2.3%. This means that experts at On3 believe the battle for Alijah Arenas is down to just UCLA and Arizona.
Arenas has previously visited Arizona in an unofficial capacity, while UCLA has turned up its efforts in trying to recruit him.
