Out in Las Vegas in recent days, Syracuse basketball recruiting targets Kiyan Anthony from New York City and Tyler Jackson from Baltimore played quite well, including in games broadcast on national television.
The 6-foot-3 Jackson, a 2025 five-star point guard offered a scholarship by the Orange coaching staff in late April, earned a lot of high praise from national analysts and scouts for his performances with the 17U squad of the Baltimore-based Team Thrill in the Under Armour Association league (“UAA”).
Jackson, who has said he’s likely to take an official visit to the Hill at some point in the near future, displayed his scoring prowess, playmaking and facilitating for others, and his strong defensive instincts in helping lead Team Thrill to a title at the Sportradar Showdown in Henderson, Nev.
Additionally, this past Monday night on ESPN2, Team Thrill took on the 17U squad of the Orlando, Fla.-based Florida Rebels in Nike’s EYBL league as part of the annual Las Vegas Big Time Tournament.
https://twitter.com/SCNext/status/1681062727710568449
Jackson, playing up a division for Team Thrill 17U, scored some buckets on ESPN2, showed off his quickness and lead-guard play, and I also watched him secure a few steals, as his squad handled the Florida Rebels, 102-86.
I haven’t come across a full box score to determine just how many points Jackson tallied, but I can see why the ‘Cuse coaching staff is so high on him in the rising-junior class. He is also a standout for the Saint Frances Academy in Baltimore.
Syracuse basketball target Kiyan Anthony also was a star in Las Vegas.
The 6-foot-5 Anthony, a 2025 four-star shooting guard who is the son of Orange legend Carmelo Anthony, was offered by ‘Cuse last November. He, too, has said that he plans to officially visit Syracuse basketball at some point.
Kiyan Anthony with the tough bucket 😳 @SCNext pic.twitter.com/fn6vRAiJYA
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 17, 2023
Kiyan Anthony, who will spend his junior year at the powerhouse Long Island Lutheran High School in Brookville, N.Y., usually suits up for either the 17U or 16U squad of the Baltimore-based Team Melo in Nike’s EYBL league on the AAU circuit.
However, at the Las Vegas Big Time Tournament, he has been competing for the 16U group of the Los Angeles-based Team Strive For Greatness in Nike’s EYBL league, where one of his teammates was 2025 four-star shooting guard Bryce James, who is the son of NBA superstar LeBron James.
https://twitter.com/EliteHSscouting/status/1680984537369812992
While I haven’t been able to locate box scores for the Las Vegas Big Time Tournament, social media posts indicated that Anthony scored 24 points in one game and 22 points in another contest.
This past Monday night in Las Vegas, Team Strive For Greatness matched up with the 16U unit of the Miami-based Nightrydas Elite in Nike’s EYBL league, with this enticing encounter broadcast on ESPN.
Nightrydas Elite is one of the best AAU programs nationwide, with its roster featuring the sons of former NBA player and Duke star Carlos Boozer, who won a national championship in 2001 with the Blue Devils. His sons are 2025 five-star power forward Cameron Boozer, the No. 1 prospect in this class, and 2025 five-star point guard Cayden Boozer, a top-20 overall player in this cycle.
According to an article from Krysten Peek, an NBA Draft Analyst for Yahoo Sports, Nightrydas Elite defeated Team Strive For Greatness, 77-69. Kiyan Anthony, on ESPN, finished with 12 points. Peek noted that he “was very active offensively and defensively.”
"Peek had this to say in part about Anthony, who has seen his stock soar this spring and summer due to his strong play in grassroots basketball. “His jump shot has improved, particularly behind the arc, and he’s starting to make better decisions after turning the corner, whether that’s a pull-up at the elbow or turn-around jumper from the corner.”"