The clock is ticking for Kiyan Anthony’s final college choice. But just hours before the announcement, the basketball world is buzzing with another achievement. The 17-year-old four-star recruit after showcasing his skills this summer at Peach Jam, SLAM Summer Classic, and Rod Wave, has the possibility to receive one of the highest honors that a high school athlete can get, thus cementing his name as a potential prospect already. However, what truly added intrigue to this announcement was the appearance of another name on the list of players to receive the award.

Recently the Naismith Trophy’s official Instagram account posted the watchlist of Naismith Boys’ High School Player of the Year. The caption read,”🚨 THE WAIT IS OVER 🚨 Introducing the 2024-25 @jerseymikes Naismith Boys’ High School Player of the Year Watch List 🏀.” As mentioned earlier, the list included Kiyan Anthony, the talented son of NBA legend Carmelo Anthony. But it also listed former NBA Champion Trevor Ariza’s son, Tajh Ariza.

While Kiyan’s achievement has dominated headlines, Tajh Ariza’s inclusion on the Naismith watchlist is equally deserving of recognition. The 6’7″ forward has been making waves with his athleticism and defensive prowess, traits reminiscent of his father, Trevor Ariza. While much is not known about his current stats, the No. 6 overall recruit in the 2026 class from Westchester High School, showcased his skills during the Nike EYBL Peach Jam at Augusta, SC. There, he averaged 13.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game.

“A dad that played professional sports, you got a target on your back. So, when he was younger, wasn’t as confident in himself, he would feel that pressure a little bit, but once we started to work on our game, work on his game, the confidence started to come,” said Trevor Ariza regarding his son during an interview.

Moreover, considering he’s the son of a 17-year NBA veteran, such stats are quite understandable. Most notably Trevor Ariza built his career on versatility, defense, and clutch performances; such as when he helped the Los Angeles Lakers win a championship in 2009, averaging 11.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.8 steals in 5 games. In the 1,118 regular season games he had played, the former small forward had also averaged 10.4 points per game.

The inclusion of both Kiyan and Tajh on the watchlist highlights a fascinating generational shift in basketball. These young stars are stepping out of their fathers’ shadows and carving their own paths to greatness. But with just a few hours left before Kiyan’s college announcement, it leaves us with the question of what is Tajh’s college status.

College offers got by Tajh Ariza

Trevor Ariza is one of the most talented 16-year-old players in the nation. He is seventh on ESPN’s top 60 players from the 2026 talent class and is expected to grow even more as the high school season begins. Just like Kiyan, who initially got 20 offers from colleges, Ariza has also received 11 offers as per 247 Sports.

USC, UCLA, Arizona, Kansas, UNLV, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Kansas State are among the choices. The USC Trojans have a 17.4 percent prediction to land Tajh in 2026, followed by UCLA Bruins at 15.2 percent, UNLV at 13 percent, and Arizona State Sun Devils at 10.9 percent. He’s still a high school junior and hence has enough time to make the decision.

According to On3, the small forward is also making waves off the court since he has a current NIL valuation of 209k. Moreover, it can also be expected that more offers will pour in until 2026 given his hard work and dedication to the game. With his talent and pedigree, Tajh is poised to be a highly sought-after prospect just like his father. But for now, of course the question is about Kiyan’s choice!