Kiyan Anthony Steps Out of Carmelo’s Shadow, Aims to Revive Syracuse Basketball

Kiyan Anthony, the son of NBA legend Carmelo Anthony, is stepping out of his father’s long shadow and carving his own path at Syracuse University, where he’ll play college basketball. The young guard, a top high school prospect, is ready to make his mark with the Orange, just as his dad did when he led the team to a national championship in 2003.

With Carmelo’s playing days behind him, the father-son duo is tighter than ever. Kiyan recently shared with WTFNewsRoom, "Now that he’s retired, he’s all in—showing up at my games, chilling at his place, just being there. It’s strengthened our bond." This newfound closeness was showcased in a Father’s Day collaboration with Meta, where they filmed an episode of Close Friends Only, giving fans a glimpse into their off-court connection.

Kiyan admits the pressure of the Anthony name once weighed heavy. "Early on, I wasn’t even that good," he said candidly. "People had opinions, and with my dad still in the NBA, I had to figure it out alone." But hard work has turned doubters into fans, and now Kiyan’s focused on his NBA dreams—his own, not his father’s. "He never pushed me to play ball. This is what I love, and I’m locked in," he said.

At Syracuse, Kiyan aims to revive the program’s glory days. "The team’s been off the radar lately—no tournament runs, no big wins," he noted. "I want to bring back that Syracuse vibe, get the fans hyped, and maybe even make a deep tournament push."

While the NBA is the ultimate goal, Kiyan’s immediate focus is clear: honor his family’s legacy while writing his own story in orange and blue.