NBA Draft Junkies Live: How Much Should We Really Judge Alijah Arenas’ Freshman Year?

Alijah Arenas entered college as one of the most talented young guards in the country, but his freshman season was anything but normal. After recovering from a serious car accident and then undergoing knee surgery, Arenas didn't have a traditional offseason or preseason before eventually returning to the court. When he did play, the results were mixed. There were flashes of high-level shot creation and scoring ability, but also significant concerns about his efficiency, shot selection and decision-making. So what should NBA scouts actually take away from his freshman season? In this episode, Rafael and James debate whether Arenas' struggles were legitimate red flags or simply the product of an incredibly difficult year. We break down the flashes, the 34% shooting from the field and 21% from three, his NBA strengths and weaknesses, and what he needs to prove this season to reestablish himself as one of the top prospects in the 2027 NBA Draft.

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