Kiyan Anthony is stepping into a new chapter of his basketball journey and he’s doing it on his own terms. The 17-year-old son of NBA legend Carmelo Anthony has officially started his freshman season at Syracuse University, the same program where his father made history two decades ago.
“It’s definitely overwhelming,” Kiyan admitted in a recent interview with DailyOrange.com. “I’m not even gonna lie and sit here like it’s a bed of roses. It’s definitely a lot of pressure.”
Choosing Syracuse was a full-circle moment for both father and son. Carmelo famously led the program to its first national championship in 2003, and now, two decades later, Kiyan has arrived to help restore that same “Orange Standard.”
Carmelo called it a passing of the baton, one that’s both emotional and symbolic. “You talk about legacy, and you talk about family dynamics, you talk about passing things on down to your family, to your kids,” he told The Daily Orange. “And this is something that we passing, and we passing the baton to him. And now whatever he do with it, he do with it, and that’s on him.”
At just 18, Kiyan already knows what it means to live under a spotlight. With over a million followers on Instagram, NIL deals including an American Eagle campaign with NFL star Travis Kelce, and constant public attention, his every move is watched.
Still, his mother, La La Anthony, says he’s handling the transition to college life with maturity and keeping his circle small. “It’s an essential part of him keeping a clear head,” she said, adding that time alone helps him recharge.
That focus traces back to years of 6 a.m. workouts with Carmelo before school, a ritual that built not only Kiyan’s skill but his discipline. “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.”
Now standing at 6-foot-5, Kiyan’s talent and determination have turned him into one of the top high school recruits in the nation. Syracuse head coach Adrian Autry expects him to make an immediate impact. “Thankfully, he’s ready,” Autry said. “He just has to continue to get better, like most freshmen.”
Kiyan’s left arm bears a tattoo that tells the story best, a reimagining of the photo that once defined his father’s career. Carmelo’s “CHAMPS” has become Kiyan’s “LEGACY.” And as the young guard takes the court wearing Orange, it truly feels like a legacy.
Photo Credit: Kiyan Anthony Instagram; LaLa Anthony Instagram
