Like father, like son. Pour one for Kiyan
Kiyan Anthony, the son of future Hall of Famer and New York Knicks icon Carmelo Anthony, has made a commitment to Syracuse University.
For those who may not know, Melo played for Syracuse for one season, where he began his legendary career. He made his mark in NCAA history by leading the Orangemen to their sole championship in 2003 as a freshman before declaring for the NBA draft.
Kiyan made the announcement during a special episode of his father’s *7PM in Brooklyn* podcast, where he was joined by his parents, Carmelo and La La Anthony, as well as co-host The Kid Mero to share the news.
At 17 years old and a senior at Long Island Lutheran High School, Kiyan is one of the top recruits in the Class of 2025, ranked No. 36 on ESPN’s Top 100. Known as one of the nation’s top pure scorers, he received offers from several major programs, including USC, Auburn, Indiana, and Michigan, but ultimately chose Syracuse due to its basketball legacy and his personal connection to the school.
“Ultimately, it came down to my relationship with the staff,” Kiyan explained. “From the moment they started recruiting me, they made me feel like family.”
While the presence of his dad’s name on the facility is meaningful, Kiyan is determined to make his own mark. “I want to go in there and create my own name, and I’ve already started doing that with my offseason dedication—early-morning practices, playing at camps, and competing on the circuit.”
Not only did Melo lead Syracuse to the championship, but he was also named an All-American and earned the title of NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player.
For Kiyan, stepping into his father’s shoes comes with high expectations, but it seems he’s not intimidated by them.
“I’m going to do everything Coach [Adrian] Autry needs me to do,” Kiyan said. “We have a lot of conversations, especially late at night, about how we can elevate Syracuse basketball. Off the court, Coach is really chill. You could hang out with him on a Friday night. He’s still young and connects with all his players; he’s very relatable.”
