In a recent chat with SportsCenter, rising basketball star Kiyan Anthony spoke candidly about his future in the game. While his father, Carmelo, became a star in college and the NBA, Kiyan says that he’s on his own path and that he’s out to build a legacy independent of his dad’s.
“[My father] never pushes me to go to Syracuse just because his name is on the gym,” said Kiyan on SC Next. “He knows that I’m my own person. I’ve just got to make my own decision at the end of the day.”
At 17, Kiyan is at a crossroads in his young career. After this final year at Long Island Lutheran High School, he’ll be on the clock to decide the next phase of his journey — whether it’s in college, overseas, or the G-League. From there, the young basketball star has a path to the NBA where he’s projected to be a productive offensive player.
Kiyan’s dad, Carmelo, retired as an NBA legend in 2022. He began his storied career at Syracuse, where. He led the New Yorkers to a national championship in 2003 and remains a legend in the school to this day. In 2009, Syracuse honored Anthony by naming their new state-of-the-art basketball facility after him.
While Carmelo was never able to win a championship in the NBA world, he found more success there than most players can dream about. After breaking out into a superstar for the Nuggets, he forced his way to the Knicks where he became the face of the franchise and the leader of the team both on and off the court.
Eventually, after various stints with other teams, Anthony’s career came to a close and now all that’s left are the memories and highlights. Today, besides shooting his own podcast, the NBA veteran is primarily focused on his family, and that means doing what he can to further the development of Kiyan.
While it’s still far too early to make any concrete predictions, early scouting reports say that Kiyan’s skills as a shooter and ball handler could make him a dangerous scorer, especially out of pick-and-roll situations. Just like his dad, he’s got a knack for creating his own shot and has consistently shown the ability to hit contested jumpers.
Kiyan, who is still undecided on his future, recently watched one of his friends and peers (Bronny James) make the jump to the pros and over the next two years, he’ll have the chance to partner with Bryce James and other NBA kids on his own transition to the league.
For now, Kiyan is still just trying to enjoy the process and not get too far ahead. As a teenager, Kiyan still has much to learn and grow before he’s NBA-ready but he’s got enough support from Carmelo and others to have great success in the league.
The first big decision for Kiyan comes next summer when it’s time to commit to a college. Syracuse would be the iconic pick for Anthony but both he and his dad have made it clear that Kiyan is his own man and that he will pick whichever school (or team) he thinks is right for him.
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