Trevor Ariza’s son, Tajh, is making a name for himself as a basketball star and is part of the next generation of talented players.
Trevor Ariza’s son, Tajh, is part of the next generation of basketball stars, @RohanNadkarni writes https://t.co/476GlUVX9N
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) November 2, 2023
Tajh, who has already received offers from USC and Washington, recently showcased his skills at the Flight Club Invitational, a prestigious tournament for top high schools.
This event, which took place in Santa Monica at the end of October, brought together several recognizable young prospects.
Los Angeles is no stranger to basketball stars, with both the Clippers and Lakers boasting MVPs, future Hall of Famers, and top-tier talents.
However, the up-and-coming generation of players had the opportunity to display their skills against each other at the FCI. Tajh shared that the tournament was a great experience.
“It was really fun, it gets the city going, the buzz was amazing,” says Ariza.
Tajh was not the only top prospect at the tournament. Other notable players included Alijah Arenas, Bryce James, and Mercy Miller, the sons of Gilbert Arenas, LeBron James, and Master P, respectively.
This gathering provided young players with a glimpse of the environment they aspire to compete in, albeit on a smaller scale.
Arenas, who attends Chatsworth High, has an offer from UCLA and is also being pursued by other schools like Kansas.
James has an offer from Ohio State and may choose to follow in his father’s footsteps by representing his home state.
Meanwhile, Miller, a highly regarded guard, has committed to playing at Houston. All of these young talents currently attend high school in the greater Los Angeles area.
The tournament itself took place at Crossroads Academy, a school that is home to some promising basketball players, including Aidan Croshere, son of Pacers fan favorite Austin Croshere.
The renowned sneaker store, Flight Club, which is famous for its long lines on Fairfax Avenue, recently announced its partnership with Crossroads as the official clothing supplier for the basketball team and coaching staff.
This means fans can catch the talented Crossroads high schoolers wearing the sought-after Kobe 6 Protro All Stars during the upcoming season, thanks to the sneaker store’s support.
“It was a great challenge and experience,” says Tajh, who attends St. Bernard. “Bryce, Alijah, we’re all in the same area, so I have to see them eventually. It makes me more motivated to dominate.”
As a former player who faced off against the likes of James and Arenas during his career, Trevor Ariza now enjoys watching his son compete against the children of his former contemporaries.
He describes giving advice to Tajh, who he sees as a younger version of himself, as “playing a video game.”
“It’s really dope, man,” says Trevor. “It’s like watching your younger self go against their younger selves. I feel like they have elements of us, they’re our DNA, their bodies move the same. The thing that you can’t do is think for them. They have their own thought process. The way that they paint their canvas is completely different than what we paint ours.”
However, Trevor does not believe that the current generation of Southern California talent directly compares to the one he was a part of two decades ago.
