4-Star SF Tajh Ariza, son of NBA champion Trevor Ariza, talks UCLA, Washington, Kansas
Tajh Ariza is the No. 11 overall player in the 2026 On3 Industry Ranking. The 6-foot-7 wing played with the Team Why Not Program on Nike’s EYBL E15 Circuit this summer and is currently a sophomore at Playa Del Rey (CA) St. Bernard High.
“I’m a tall guard,” Ariza told On3. “I bring the ball up the court, I read the floor, and stretch the floor out with my shot. Rebounding, blocking shots, playing defense. I’m playing a lot on the ball for my high school, and that helps me be able to read the floor from different spots. The wing is my sweet spot, but it’s also good to get out of my comfort zone and learn different things. I watch a lot of Devin Booker and Jayson Tatum, and their mid-range games.”
On3 caught up with four-star Tajh Ariza after a live viewing at the recent Tarkanian Classic to talk about his recruitment.
“I haven’t been on any unofficial visits yet, and don’t have any planned coming up,” Ariza said. “I have offers from UCLA, Kansas, Washington, and some others, I got eight offers right now.”
Ariza Touches on Kansas, Washington, and UCLA
KANSAS: “I’ve watched a couple of their games and what they do with their wings. They’ve developed a lot of wings and put them in the pros over the years.”
WASHINGTON: “They’re doing some good things over there. They like bigger guards and long wings. I could fit in well there with what they’re telling me.”
UCLA: “They know my dad, obviously he went there. I’ve been to a couple of games and watched them play. They play hard, run fast, and get up and down the court. They also have a long of tall guards on the court.”
Ariza’s Dad Played 17 Seasons in the NBA
Tajh Ariza’s dad, Trevor Ariza, was drafted 43rd in the 2004 NBA Draft after a one-and-done season at UCLA. Ariza went on to play 17 seasons in the NBA, scoring 11,593 career points and winning an NBA championship in 2009.
My dad has helped me a lot so far,” Ariza said. “He has been leading me every step, telling me what I have to do with my game, and how I got to play, how hard I got to play, and rebounding. He talks to me about being aggressive and playing hard.
“He’s started showing me how colleges and coaches will look at me, and now they are going to scout me. Seeing the success he had has shown me how hard I have to work. He was where I wanted to be, I know I have to constantly work.”
At the end of the day
“I don’t really have a specific time frame for when I want to start taking some visits,” Ariza said. “But, I’ll probably start looking at that around this time next year, go on some visits my senior year. I’m not really focused on that right now.
“I want to go to a team where I can play with other good players. I mean, everyone in college is good, I know that, but high-caliber guys. I’ll want to have a good connection with my coach. Trust, be pushed every day to work harder.
I’m comfortable playing fast, and up-tempo. I’ll look for a program where one through five, there aren’t really set positions and a team that plays hard.”