Bronny and Bryce have been prominent figures in high school basketball news in recent times. Undoubtedly, their connection to LeBron James has significantly contributed to the considerable attention and anticipation surrounding the two teenagers. However, there’s another high school hooper who has garnered similar levels of attention, if not more, for his stellar displays. Who could it be?
His name is Alijah Arenas, and he plays for Chatsworth Chancellors. If this name rings a bell, you’re correct because Alijah is the son of former Washington Wizards star and 3x All-Star, Gilbert Arenas. Alijah Arenas has been making waves in his sophomore season of varsity basketball. Even at the young age of 15, Alijah Arenas has already garnered attention from several D1 colleges, with ESPN rating him as a five-star recruit.
Seasoned Los Angeles Times journalist Eric Sondheimer, who has covered L.A. high school basketball since 1997, took to X and wrote, “Forget Bronny James. This is the son of a former NBA player to get excited about.” The 6’5” shooting guard has averaged 32.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game this season.
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ALIJAH ARENAS PLAYOFF MODE 😈
Watching Gil on the sideline is just as entertaining as the game 🤣 pic.twitter.com/JgbtUH3eUD
— Overtime (@overtime) February 28, 2024
His exceptional scoring ability was on full display during his recent game against Washington Prep. Alijah Arenas dropped an impressive 53 points to help his side take a 74-69 win and advance to the regional finals.
With such remarkable performances, Alijah Arenas is on track to become eligible for the NBA Draft in 2026. However, his outstanding displays for the Chatsworth Chancellors have somewhat reduced the hype surrounding Bronny and Bryce; especially when ESPN recently pushed Bronny James into the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft.
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Bronny and Bryce struggle to match the luster of Alijah Arenas
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Bronny and Bryce James have struggled to leave a deep imprint of themselves on their respective teams. Bronny’s struggles this season have been widely covered by the media. His stats display several single-digit numbers on the charts as he plays for the USC Trojans in the NCAA Division 1 Basketball. Bryce James seems to be having even more trouble.
After transferring from Notre Dame to Sierra Canyon, Bryce has struggled to get consistent game time. Currently, he is a bench player for Sierra Canyon. However, he has D1 offers from Ohio State and Duquesne. Bryce would become draft-eligible in 2026, the same year as Alijah Arenas.
But coming back to Bronny’s potential NBA career, his agent Rich Paul, said that the young player will decide on the NBA Draft based on teams interested and not draft position. “I don’t value a young player getting into the lottery as much as I do getting him on the right team in the right developmental situation,” Paul said. While Bronny’s stats aren’t the best, the possibility of an NBA team acquiring him and his father in the process seems tempting. After all, LeBron James dreams of playing with his son.
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What are your thoughts on Bryce and Bronny’s draft prospects? Let us know in the comments below.
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