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James Harden declares USC freshman as his one and true heir

James Harden used to dominate grown men when he was still a kid. Now, he sees himself in a future NBA star.

James Harden #1 of the Los Angeles Clippers.
© Ronald Martinez/Getty ImagesJames Harden #1 of the Los Angeles Clippers.

Not so long ago, Gilbert Arenas was making a fool of defenders in the NBA. Unfortunately, his questionable life choices made his promising career and prime be short-lived.

Now, his son, Alijah, can do what he didn’t and have a long and successful career in the pros. If you were to ask James Harden, he has everything it takes to be that type of player.

Last summer, the Los Angeles Clippers star admitted that he was a fan of Arenas’ game. He pulled up to watch him play, and he even offered to work out with him if he wanted.

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James Harden wants to mentor Alijah Arenas

“I saw Alijah this summer,” Harden said, via Last Word on Sports. “He reminded me of myself in the sense that he played against pros while still in high school. I just spoke to him and said, ‘If you ever need anything, reach out, and we can train together. He’s a true student of the game.”

Alijah Arenas

Alijah Arenas

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Arenas is now gearing up to do his thing with the USC Trojans. He’s dominated at every level so far, but he’s not going to be the alpha dog in college basketball, at least on paper.

Even so, he already knows what it takes to be great, and with a mentor like Harden and his father, perhaps he could climb his way to the top five of the upcoming NBA Draft.

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