Four-star guard Kiyan Anthony, the No. 32 player in the 2025 recruiting class and the son of 10-time NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony, has committed to Syracuse, he announced via social media Friday.
He chose the Orange over USC and Auburn and is their fourth commitment in the class, including a pair of four-star prospects in Sadiq White Jr. and Luke Fennell. Anthony’s commitment to the ACC school follows his father’s path, as Carmelo played one season at Syracuse and led the program to its first NCAA men’s basketball championship in 2003.
The 6-foot-5, 185-pound prospect is the No. 1 player in New York, per 247Sports Composite rankings.
Anthony, 17, played for Team Melo, his father’s AAU team, on the Nike EYBL Circuit. He averaged 19.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.
He finished the summer strong, showcasing his versatility as a scorer and even using some of his dad’s old moves from midrange. At the NBA Top 100 camp in Orlando, Anthony averaged 28.5 points in eight games, leading all camp scorers.
In July at the Peach Jam, he had one of the best performances of the event, scoring 40 points, making 15 of his 19 shots while his dad and other current and former NBA stars sat courtside.
What Anthony brings to Syracuse
Shocker: Carmelo Anthony’s son, just like his father, is a walking bucket.
Scoring is the name of the game with the younger Anthony, who is as much a shot-hunter as any player in the 2025 class. He averaged 19.6 points per game in the EYBL this summer, 11th-most amongst all players, which backs up his three-level potential. That said, the 6-foot-5 guard is far too willing to settle for tough shots, and his shot diet is something Syracuse staff will have to work with him on. It’s fine if Anthony uses his dad’s patented jab step every once in a while, but upping his efficiency — he shot just 38 percent overall in the EYBL this summer — will be paramount.
The intriguing thing at the next level will be how Anthony continues developing his guard-like skills. He doesn’t have the same height or build as his dad, although he’s getting stronger, and he profiles more as a bigger combo guard in college. He looked more comfortable than I expected in ball-screen situations this summer, and could assume some handling duties if he continues growing in that respect. His passing is underrated, too. Overall, Anthony doesn’t project as a one-and-done, but should be a solid college scorer with the potential to play at the next level given his famous bloodline. And of course, Syracuse fans will be thrilled to cheer for an Anthony again. — Brendan Quinn, Enterprise writer
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(Photo: David Dow / Getty Images)
