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ometimes, Kiyan Anthony goes home and sits in the dark. No roommates, no distractions. It’s the only time the voices don’t creep in.
Because when the freshman walks outside his apartment, the noise returns. There’s constant media attention. Classmates request pictures. Once, someone followed him to his car.
His teammates insist they wouldn’t assume his background based on how he carries himself. But as the son of basketball royalty, it’s impossible not to know who Kiyan is.
“It’s definitely overwhelming,” Kiyan said. “I’m not even gonna lie and sit here like it’s a bed of roses. It’s definitely a lot of pressure.”
By choosing to play for Syracuse, Kiyan is taking the spotlight head-on, playing for the program that kick-started his father Carmelo Anthony’s Hall of Fame career. Before practicing, he sees Carmelo’s name imprinted on SU’s facility. In the JMA Wireless Dome, Carmelo’s retired No. 15 will reign down from the rafters.
Still, Kiyan says he’s not chasing Carmelo’s legacy. He’s focusing on adding to it while building his own name.
Even through the Orange’s recent “down years,” Carmelo said he and Kiyan — a shooting guard and 247Sports’ No. 32 recruit in the 2025 class — stayed locked into the program. Now, in a pivotal season for SU as it looks to snap its longest March Madness drought in over five decades, Kiyan is tasked with helping restore the “Orange Standard” — encapsulated when Carmelo led Syracuse to its lone national championship in 2003.
“You talk about legacy, and you talk about family dynamics, you talk about passing things on down to your family, to your kids. And this is something that we passing, and we passing the baton to him,” Carmelo told The Daily Orange. “And now whatever he do with it, he do with it, and that’s on him.”
• • •
Standing center stage with Kiyan, Carmelo fought — and failed — to hold back tears. On the evening of Nov. 16, 2024, Carmelo addressed the crowd at Kiyan’s commitment party.
Throughout his life, Kiyan said he viewed Carmelo as a soldier. But this moment? Carmelo showed a side that his son explained he’s only seen a few times.
The raw emotion meant a lot to Kiyan. It showed him how much his Syracuse commitment meant to Carmelo.
Deep down, Carmelo yearned for this.
During Kiyan’s recruitment, which was down to SU and Southern California, he thought, What are you waiting for? Once Kiyan chose the Orange, he breathed a sigh of relief. You had me nervous for a second.
Throughout his son’s life, he never interfered with coaches or trainers. As Kiyan was sought after by top colleges, Carmelo said he never pushed his son toward Syracuse and that he wanted him to be recruited just like every other prospect.
Kiyan added that his father let him take his time with the decision, never pressuring him.
“I think he understood and understands what this really means, as far as putting an ‘S’ on your chest,” Carmelo said.
Kiyan Anthony poses for the camera, donning his signature “KIY” chain before his commitment party. Down to Syracuse and USC, Kiyan followed his father’s footsteps to SU. Courtesy of Hector Martinez, Moving Pictures
But the magnitude of Kiyan playing for Syracuse is far different than Carmelo’s. Before Carmelo — the No. 2 recruit in his class — practiced with the Orange, they didn’t know much about him. Former SU teammate Hakim Warrick admitted he initially had doubts because he thought Carmelo was chubby.
It’s unimaginable for Kiyan’s teammates to know nothing about him. He boasts 1.1 million Instagram followers and is already a celebrity in his own right. He’s also built his status through name, image and likeness deals, including an American Eagle campaign with future NFL Hall of Fame tight end Travis Kelce.
It’s helped create a spotlight that virtually no other 18-year-old can compare to. While second-year NBA guard Bronny James and Duke freshmen Cameron and Cayden Boozer can relate, Kiyan knows he’s different from most.
He says he always tries to “act as normal as possible,” not show any entitlement, be humble and learn every day. But sometimes, Kiyan just wants to be the mellow, Clash Royale-obsessed 18-year-old.
Kiyan’s cousin, Mekai Vazquez — also an SU freshman — described his cousin as a homebody who loves watching TV, movies, playing video games and online streaming. It’s Kiyan’s first time living away from home, but he says having Vazquez and three of his childhood best friends — who play basketball at nearby colleges — living five minutes away has kept him level-headed.
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Kiyan’s mother, La La, said having his cousin and friends nearby helps her son feel at home and provides the support he needs. She emphasized how important it is for Kiyan to have the right circle around him — something she understands well as a famous actress, producer and businesswoman.
When Kiyan isn’t hanging out with his circle, teammates or playing basketball, he’s usually alone in his apartment. La La explained that he likes to unwind by himself after a long day.
“It’s an essential part of him keeping a clear head,” La La told The D.O.
Outside of his friendly confines, La La added that Kiyan is handling the transition to college well, and he’s excited for the season to start.
La La said she’ll frequently be in Syracuse once games begin. Meanwhile, Kiyan said Carmelo is managing his schedule around his new broadcasting gig with NBC, but he’ll be in attendance as much as possible.
Though she declined to give any names, La La noted there’ll be “some really cool surprises” joining her in supporting the Orange throughout the year.
That’s the Kiyan effect.
At Syracuse’s preseason Media Day, Kiyan Anthony dons his Syracuse jersey. The No. 7 is the same number Carmelo wore for most of his time in the NBA. Leonardo Eriman | Photo Editor
• • •
Every morning, Kiyan’s 6 a.m. alarm was his father.
Before a nearly hour-and-a-half commute to school from Brooklyn to Nassau County, Kiyan worked out with Carmelo. He feels it’s one of the most important decisions he’s made in his basketball career.
At the time, Long Island Lutheran — where Kiyan transferred midway through his sophomore year after attending Christ the King in the Bronx — was amid its first season in what’s now the Nike EYBL Scholastic Conference. The league allows the nation’s best high schools to compete against each other.
Kiyan didn’t have many college offers when he transferred. He explained that transferring to LuHi was his best chance to gain exposure. But since his mid-season transfer made him ineligible, that opportunity would have to wait until his junior year.
For when that moment arrived, Carmelo’s early-morning workouts were invaluable. Each morning, they picked a spot on the court and honed in on Kiyan’s ability to score — a second nature to Carmelo, who scored the 10th-most points in NBA history.
Then it was time for school, LuHi’s practice after classes and another workout at night. Rinse and repeat.
“My dad, he just kept me level-headed, and I just kept doing it,” Kiyan said. “I didn’t know when it would pay off, but it eventually did.”
Kiyan Anthony sticks close to his father Carmelo’s side as a young kid. Kiyan was often influenced by his father growing up, leading to the two doing early-morning workouts together in high school. Courtesy of Hector Martinez, Moving Pictures
Kiyan didn’t have to do the work. He knows he doesn’t have to be playing basketball. He knows he doesn’t need to make it out of the mud — like how Carmelo rose from rags to riches out of Myrtle Avenue in Baltimore.
Formulating his own story and path helped drive Kiyan, Vazquez said. When Kiyan was in middle school, Vazquez remembers social media accounts posting clips of Kiyan, highlighting that he was Carmelo’s son.
Naysayers flooded the comments, saying he wasn’t as good as his dad — or good, period. At that point, Vazquez said, Kiyan’s desire to create a name for himself was born.
“He’s never really been worried about being in his dad’s shadow,” Vazquez said. “He’s been sort of independent his whole life.”
But when Kiyan entered high school, standing about 6-foot and 150 pounds, he had a ways to go. Kiyan admitted that as a freshman, he wouldn’t have believed himself if he said he’d be a top player on a top-five team in the nation as a senior.
Brandon Gardner, who was named “Mr. Basketball” in New York as a senior at Christ the King in 2023, remembers Kiyan being “real small” but a “little dog.” On a loaded team, Kiyan’s role was limited as he was still developing.
Ten games into his sophomore season, Kiyan decided to transfer and focus on his development for the rest of the year. Beyond honing his game with Carmelo and renowned trainer Chris Brickley, Kiyan developed his body with Garson Grant and Brian Harrington, among others.
Grant, an independent trainer in New York City who also trains Carmelo, said Kiyan was the most focused high school athlete he’s ever worked with. Meanwhile, Harrington — a strength and performance coach in the New York City area — added that Kiyan “worked his freaking ass off” to get where he is now.
Pairing self-scheduled strength training with a growth spurt, Kiyan now stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 185 pounds.
As he was still growing into his body as a sophomore, LuHi head coach John Buck praised Kiyan for his involvement during practice, despite being ineligible. Buck said he used Kiyan in a scout-team-like role, mirroring an opposing team’s best player. Additionally, his personality during games was infectious.
“He’s jumping up and down, he’s cheering guys on,” Buck said. “People like that, if they drain energy versus give energy, it can change the way your team performs.”
Once Kiyan returned to the court on the AAU circuit during the summer, Gardner, who now plays for Sacramento State, realized from afar that it “got real” for Kiyan when he was “frying” his competition. Even so, Kiyan was still developing.
While Buck said Kiyan played a crucial role as a junior, he mostly came off the bench since V.J. Edgecombe — who was a senior and became the No. 3 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft — played the same position. Once Edgecombe departed for Baylor and Kiyan became a senior, his work began to show.
As LuHi finished the year ranked in the top five nationally — a feat it achieved all three seasons he was with the program — Kiyan scored a team-high 15.7 points per game alongside three other current Power Four players and two top-50 2026 recruits.
Kiyan was no longer just Carmelo’s son. He was Kiyan.
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• • •
Carmelo looked at Gerry McNamara, delivered the punchline and laughed. When Kiyan visited Syracuse for the first time in his recruitment, McNamara — a former SU assistant who’s since become Siena’s head coach — pulled his former Syracuse teammate to the side.
Before having their numbers hang together in the JMA Wireless Dome’s rafters, they helped power the Orange’s 2003 title as freshmen. McNamara knew how much Syracuse meant to Carmelo — but he needed to gauge Kiyan’s true interest.
Privately, McNamara asked Carmelo if this was what Kiyan was looking for and if he wanted to go to SU.
“Yo, I’m here for a reason, bro!” McNamara recalls Carmelo quipping back before laughing.
The Orange became Kiyan’s first Power Four offer in November 2022, when he was a sophomore at Christ the King. While recruiting him, SU head coach Adrian Autry, who took over for Hall of Famer Jim Boeheim in 2023, said he was impressed with how Kiyan was “deadset” on forging his own way.
As he became one of the elite prospects in his class — evidenced by his MVP honors at the Jordan Brand Classic, an annual basketball event that showcases top high school players — Kiyan began racking up offers.
After narrowing his options to Syracuse and USC, Kiyan explained that the Trojans made a good run, and he didn’t make his decision until about a week before his commitment party. Kiyan said NIL wasn’t a factor, but the programs offered similar dollar amounts; he mentioned it was a conversation because he wants to “get paid too.”
“Aside from (Carmelo) coming here, I feel like this was the best option,” Kiyan said of choosing SU.
Entering his freshman year, Kiyan says he can contribute three-level scoring and that he has underrated playmaking ability. Autry added he expects the freshman to contribute right away due to his offensive talent.
Kiyan noted that he’s looking to spend one or two years at Syracuse before jumping to the NBA.
“Thankfully, he’s ready,” Autry said. “He just has to continue to get better, like most freshmen.”
In Syracuse’s season-opening exhibition game against Buffalo, Kiyan Anthony sinks a layup. In his first unofficial college action, he finished with 10 points and hit two 3s. Leonardo Eriman | Photo Editor
While he’s a natural shooting guard, Kiyan says he’s played point guard in practice and that he’s also comfortable playing small forward. Per Buck, Kiyan boasts a Stephen Curry-esque ability to slither in and out of space with contorted finishes alongside his outside shooting prowess.
It’s a vastly different playstyle than his father, who at 6-foot-8 possessed elite skill, strength and quickness playing both forward positions. However, Buck noted Kiyan can pour in buckets like Carmelo.
When Carmelo arrived on campus in 2002, he instantly became the Orange’s best player. He then had a transcendent one-and-done campaign, becoming the first freshman in modern men’s college basketball history to lead a title-winning team in scoring with 22.2 points per game.
Those are expectations Kiyan, or any freshman in college basketball, shouldn’t have. Kiyan said whether he starts or comes off the bench — which seems likely with Naithan George and J.J. Starling as SU’s starting backcourt — he feels he’ll play a lot and wants to contribute any way he can.
“I think it’s just great for him to be able to follow in his dad’s footsteps, and hopefully he can turn things around like (Carmelo) did,” said Warrick, whose number is retired by SU.
Before Carmelo’s arrival, Syracuse had missed the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time across Boeheim’s first 26 years at the helm. Then Carmelo sparked its national championship run.
Today, between Autry’s first two campaigns and Boeheim’s last two, the Orange are in the midst of their longest NCAA Tournament spell since missing six straight from 1967-72. Autry mentioned Syracuse being one of the best programs in college basketball history when describing the “Orange Standard” during his media day press conference.
By leading SU to the 2003 title, Carmelo is synonymous with the “Orange Standard.” And all it takes is one look at Kiyan’s left bicep to understand what he’s chasing, where a tattoo replicates one of the most iconic photos in Syracuse sports history — with several differences.
Carmelo’s No. 15 becomes Kiyan’s No. 7. “Kiyan chooses Syracuse” replaces “Syracuse wins NCAA title.” CHAMPS turns to LEGACY.
In committing to SU, Kiyan is building off the legacy his father trailblazed over two decades ago. And by inking it on his body, he’s showing the world he’s ready to embrace it.
Kiyan Anthony shows off his tattoo sleeve at SU’s Media Day. The piece mirrors his father’s photo holding a newspaper after he won the 2003 national title. Leonardo Eriman | Photo Editor
• • •
As cameras, reporters and fans surrounded the red carpet, Kiyan stood by Carmelo’s side. He donned a brown suit, sunglasses and a flashy chain with his nickname “KIY.” Every step of the way, he remained at his father’s hip.
Later in the night, when Carmelo took the stage to deliver his Hall of Fame speech, Kiyan sat stoically in the first row. After delivering what Kiyan felt was a touching speech, Carmelo embraced his son with a long hug before returning to his seat.
At Carmelo’s Hall of Fame Induction in September, Kiyan Anthony hugs his father. The two’s close bond has helped prepare Kiyan for his freshman season at Syracuse, where he’ll try to forge his own path. Leonardo Eriman | Photo Editor
Following the ceremony, Kiyan said he and Carmelo cried in the car. It was a relief, because he’d never seen his father that nervous before anything.
With Carmelo officially a Hall of Famer, Kiyan emphasized nobody can speak down on his name. That door to Carmelo’s life had shut.
But as Kiyan prepares to begin his collegiate career, the doorknob on another is starting to turn. Following his SU exhibition debut, Kiyan said it was a “blessing” to finally play for Syracuse.
Once the door to his career opens as the Orange’s season officially starts, all eyes will be on Kiyan.
It’ll be impossible to hide in the dark.
Collage by Cole Ross | Senior Staff Designer, Photographs by Leonardo Eriman | Photo Editor, Courtesy of @HugoShoots on Instagram, Hector Martinez, Moving Pictures
Published on October 30, 2025 at 12:00 am