Kiyan Anthony is aware of higher than most about his father’s legacy at Syracuse, which is among the finalists for the No. 36 prospect and four-star recruit within the 2025 ESPN 100 rankings.
Earlier than a adorned NBA profession, Carmelo Anthony led the Orange to the 2003 nationwide championship as a freshman. He additionally donated a major sum of cash to the college’s basketball facility, which now bears his identify.
Regardless of these household ties, Kiyan Anthony stated that his father and mom, La La Anthony, haven’t nudged him to choose Syracuse.
“[My father] by no means pushes me to go to Syracuse simply because his identify is on the gymnasium,” Anthony instructed ESPN on Wednesday forward of the discharge of the second season of “The Evolu7ion” on YouTube with Additional time. “He did a lot at Syracuse. He is aware of that I am my very own individual. I’ve simply bought to make my very own choice on the finish of the day.
“Whether it is Syracuse — I am going there so much and I follow, I work on the market — whether it is that, that is what it’s. However he is by no means going to say, ‘You bought to go to Syracuse. You bought to go there as a result of I went there.’ He is not going to make me comply with in his footsteps except I actually wish to.”
Anthony stated he’ll select from his record of finalists — Syracuse, Auburn, USC, Florida State, Ohio State and Rutgers — within the subsequent two months and he expects to take one other go to to Syracuse earlier than his remaining choice.
At Lengthy Island Lutheran Excessive College in Brookville, New York, Anthony’s profession has been scrutinized due to household. His father is a possible Naismith Memorial Basketball Corridor of Fame inductee and his mom is an actress and superstar with 15 million Instagram followers.
On his YouTube present, Anthony hopes to indicate what it is wish to face the eye he is had since he was a toddler. However he additionally loves that his mates and teammates get an opportunity to share the highlight with him.
“My mates possibly not having the identical alternatives as I’ve, I am the one which’s tried to convey them together with me,” Anthony stated. “I do not wish to make them really feel overlooked.”
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Anthony, a 6-foot-5 guard, additionally stated he needs to show that he is greater than a scorer. A few of his offensive exploits, together with a 15-point effort at Rucker Park in April, have gone viral, however he stated he is engaged on showcasing his playmaking talents in his remaining highschool season.
And whereas his connection together with his father attracts a lot of the headlines, he stated his mom has additionally performed a pivotal function in his growth.
“I might say everyone sees when the cameras are on [my dad] after which they’re on me as a result of I am taking part in good, however I might say my mother does much more background stuff. Like, once I’m going by means of one thing or I want any person to speak to, my mother is certainly the individual,” Anthony stated. “And he or she’s the one who actually pushes me to get within the gymnasium, even when I do not wish to. To go to highschool and keep on prime of my grades and stuff like that.”
From the second he picked up a basketball, Anthony was tied to the college the place his father made basketball historical past as a one-and-done star who led the Orange to a nationwide title over Kansas. And whereas he is at all times considered the potential for changing into the following member of the Anthony household to don a Syracuse jersey, these near him is not going to stress him.
He stated his subsequent go to to Syracuse and his different finalists, nonetheless, will affect his choice. His mother and father will play a job as the method unfolds, he stated, however they will not determine his future.
“Though I do know principally the entire world needs me to go to Syracuse, I nonetheless have not made the choice but and I nonetheless have to speak to the coaches some extra and actually get into element — like what different gamers are coming, how they need me to play, how I will be coached and stuff like that,” Anthony stated. “So I nonetheless have to complete up my visits, after which, in the end, simply decide. I’ll depend on my mother and father so much with their recommendation and the way they assume a college matches me.”
