It’s not every day you hear about a teenager making waves in an adult basketball league, but Alijah Arenas, son of former NBA star Gilbert Arenas, is no ordinary kid. Currently, a freshman at Chatsworth High School in Los Angeles, Alijah has been turning heads with his skills. And here’s the kicker—he’s been playing with adults since seventh grade, when he was 13-year-old. Gil didn’t hold back when it came to toughening up his son. It’s a move that might have seemed extreme, but Alijah proved he was ready. Just ask former NBA player Nick Young.

Alijah recently joined The Youngins Sports Podcast and spilled the beans on his early basketball journey. During the chat, the host shared an amusing memory: “A friend told me Gilbert Arenas’ son is playing in an adult league despite being a 7th grader. I went to go see you, bro. And I was like, man, I think, what, you were in eighth grade during the time?” Alijah, without missing a beat, clarified, “That’s seventh grade. So probably, like, the end of my seventh grade going into eighth grade.”

Alijah revealed that he got thrown into the deep end by none other than his dad. Watching Gil’s friends, including Nick Young, Vern, and Quincy, playing in the summer league inspired him to lace up. But it wasn’t just about joining; it was about holding his own. “I think I averaged, like, 16, probably, like, 3 and 3 in the adult league,” Alijah shared.

Gilbert himself has also backed up this story. In a VladTV interview last year, he revealed that Alijah once scored 20 points against Nick Young in an adult league game while still in eighth grade. He also admitted both Alijah and Nick put up 20 points in that same game. “I gave Nick the benefit of the doubt… but the scoresheet said they both had 20,” Gilbert said with a laugh.

He also added, “It’s still an eighth-grader, bro.” However Gil also said after the game son called him, “As soon as my son finished the game, he called me (and said), ‘I scored 20 on Nick Young.'” Looks like Gilbert’s unorthodox methods are paying off. Alijah isn’t just carrying on the Arenas name—he’s putting it on the map all over again.

Gilbert Arenas’ son is dominating the court like a future star

It’s hard not to notice now 17-year-old Alijah Arenas’ meteoric rise in high school basketball. As a freshman, the 16-year-old nearly averaged a double-double, putting up jaw-dropping numbers—30.3 points, 9 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game across 27 games. But he didn’t stop there. By his sophomore year, Alijah took things to the next level, averaging an unbelievable 33 points and 8.6 rebounds over 35 games. It’s safe to say, the kid is putting up stats that scream future NBA star.

Naturally, college scouts are all over him. Alijah has already racked up 19 offers from big-name programs like Kansas, UCLA, and Arizona. And just when it seemed like his list couldn’t get any more impressive, Kentucky joined the mix. And recently during his incredible Junior season debut, he dropped 32 points.

Interestingly, rumors are swirling that this five-star prospect might reclassify to the 2024 class. If that happens, fans could see him on an NBA court sooner than expected.