What draft creators are saying about Alijah Arenas, summarized — jump straight to each segment on the creator's channel.
2027 NBA Mock Draft v. 1.0 with @CBSSports Adam Finkelstein
Sam admits this is a big call. Arenas, about 6'7, looks the way an NBA scoring guard should when coming off screens, pin-downs and transition flares, with the footwork and balance his father Gilbert drilled into him. Sam questions whether the shot is good enough for that role and calls the defense messy. Adam asks what translates if he isn't good enough to be your creator. Adam discounts last year's struggles because Arenas never looked fully healthy, and recalls having him top-10 in the country two years ago. Adam frames it as a big swing between a jumbo-playmaker outcome and a defensive liability with no clear role.
shot-makeroff-screen scorerdefensive liabilityhigh variance
Way Too Early 2027 NBA Mock Draft
Swings big on Arenas at 30, saying few players left on the board have higher creation upside.
creation upsidevalue swing
Way Too Early 2027 NBA Mock Draft
Notes a rough, injury-shortened freshman year (14 games, 34% shooting, 21% from three) after off-court issues. Still calls him a high-level shot creator with a smooth handle who scores at all three levels, and thinks a healthy offseason will boost his stock.
shot creatorsmooth handleefficiency concerns
Way Too Early 2027 NBA Mock Draft
Calls Arenas the most naturally gifted scorer in the class — shotmaking creativity built on skill rather than pure athleticism, including creating off screens and making difficult shots. Sees his USC season under Eric Musselman as some of the most important film in the class and names Miami as one of the highest-ceiling landing spots.
shotmaking creativityself-creatorbig ceiling
Way-Too-Early 2027 NBA Mock Draft | FULL First Round
Calls Arenas one of the biggest upside creators in the class: a long, wiry guard with natural scoring instincts who creates shots off the bounce, plays above the rim and makes tough shots. His freshman efficiency was rough; if the jumper takes a real step, his whole profile changes.
shot creatorupsideefficiency concerns
Way Too Early 2027 NBA Mock Draft (Full First Round)
Calls Arenas a huge projection pick and a bit of a gamble after an inefficient, small-sample season coming back from a coma after a car accident, adding that he's simply glad Arenas is healthy. With his shotmaking flashes and "big shot DNA," thinks he could be one of the draft's best shot creators and due for a huge season.
shot creatorprojectionbreakout candidate
Guard · USC 
