“One of the top 10 players in the country”: Alijah Arenas’ mom Laura Govan expresses pride for 18YO daughter Izela Arenas
Izela Arenas has emerged as one of the top prospects in the Class of 2024. Representing Sierra Canyon High, the daughter of three-time NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas was the top-ranked player in her junior season, and turned the heads of the nation in her senior season.
Her immense growth during her teenage years left her mother and Gilbert Arenas' ex-wife, Laura Govan, beaming with pride. During an appearance on renowned YouTuber Carlos King's 'Reality With the King' podcast, Govan hyped up Izela's talent, believing she is among the top 10 players in the nation today.
"My daughter, now 18, at Louisville, doing amazing," said Govan. "Oh my God, she got a full scholarship. One of the top 10 players in the country, she's phenomenal, my baby lefty. I got two lefties, by the way. We'll get into the rest, but she is an amazing young woman, amazing."
During her high school basketball career, Izela led Sierra Canyon to a CIF Open Division championship, a CIF State Open Division championship, an ESPN national championship and four league championships.
She also won the Queen of the Court event in May last year, which featured some of the top women's basketball players in the nation taking each other on one-on-one.
During the event, she beat the Ohio State Buckeyes' top recruit, Jaloni Cambridge, who is the second overall ranked prospect by ESPN.com.
Izela Arenas commits to the Louisville Cardinals
By the end of her senior season, Izela Arenas was the 88th overall ranked prospect in the Class of 2024, per espnW.
After receiving several offers from colleges across the country, Arenas chose to commit to the Louisville Cardinals ahead of the Oregon Ducks, the Arizona Wildcats and the Iowa State Cyclones.
The Cardinals also landed Arenas' teammate at Sierra Canyon, Mackenly Randolph, who was classified as a five-star prospect and ranked 23rd overall by espnW.
In addition, they landed two more five-star prospects in Imari Berry and Tajianna Avant-Roberts, who are bound to spruce up their backcourt in the upcoming season.
After making a run to the Elite Eight last year, the Cardinals suffered a first-round exit in March Madness this year. With a strong signing class, they will look to make a deep postseason run in the upcoming season, which begins with a game against the UCLA Bruins in Paris on November 4.