Tajh Ariza, a five-star recruit of the 2026 Class and son of former NBA champion Trevor Ariza, is not just a basketball fan but also a baseball fan. On Sunday, he was photographed outside of Dodger Stadium while wearing some Dodgers gear and posing with the giant Rawlings Gold Glove Award statue.
Tajh is an LA resident, living in the Playa del Rey neighborhood of the city. With his hometown team, the LA Dodgers, taking on the New York Mets in the ongoing NLCS, Ariza Jr. seems to support the Dodgers.
The statue he was standing near is a gigantic replica of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award, which is given to MLB players who excel in their positions. The Golden Glove, sponsored by glove manufacturer Rawlings, is regarded as one of the sport's most coveted defensive trophies.
Tajh Ariza impresses analysts High School Fall Invite
Tajh Ariza participated in the High School Fall Invite in Los Angeles, California, which was held from October 2-6. He played for his dad's high school team, the Westchester Comets, and impressed many scouts.
During the tournament, analyst Eric Bossi noted that Tajh still needs a lot of work, as he is still "a bit inconsistent with his production." He also pointed out that Ariza needs to play with more of a killer instinct, though he admitted that the forward is still extremely talented for a high school junior.
Another analyst, Ben Pheifer, noted that Tajh knows how to use his 6-foot-8 frame and long arms to shoot over defenders. He also noted that Ariza likes to play physically and he is not afraid to drive to the hoop and draw fouls despite his wiry frame.
247Sports ranks the 6-foot-9 high school junior as the No. 5 player overall in the Class of 2026, the No. 2 small forward, and the No. 5 player in California. He has been regarded as a "true wing" with long arms, has excellent ball-handling skills and also possesses an excellent jump shot.
Many schools have already shown interest in Tajh Ariza, with several scouts watching his recent games. After those scouts showed up to watch, he received several offers, including Arkansas, Kansas State, Kentucky, Oregon, Arizona State, Kansas, USC, Washington and his father's alma mater, UCLA.