Syracuse Basketball: 4-stars Kiyan Anthony, Nigel James to collide with No. 1 Montverde

Syracuse basketball 2025 priority recruits Kiyan Anthony and Nigel James will get a rematch with the country’s No. 1 team in high school hoops this coming weekend on Long Island, N.Y.

The 6-foot-5 Anthony, a four-star shooting guard, and the 6-foot James, a four-star point guard, help form a loaded backcourt at the powerhouse Long Island Lutheran High School in Brookville, N.Y.

This Friday, Feb. 16, Long Island Lutheran will take on the No. 1 squad in the nation, the Montverde Academy in Montverde, Fla., beginning at 8 pm as part of the Bob McKillop Invitational, which is taking place at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y.

In the latest top 25 from ESPN, Montverde (26-0) is No. 1 nationally, while Long Island Lutheran (16-3) checks in at No. 2 overall.

Syracuse basketball recruiting enthusiasts will want to keep tabs on LuHi vs. Montverde.

Also as part of this event, Long Island Lutheran will suit up versus another excellent program, the Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H., beginning at 8:30 pm on Saturday, Feb. 17. The most recent top 25 from ESPN places Brewster (21-6) at No. 8 nationwide.

Brewster, Long Island Lutheran and Montverde are all part of the country’s premier high school hoops conference, the 14-member Nike Elite Youth Basketball League Scholastic (“EYBL Scholastic”).

Currently, Montverde is No. 1 and Long Island Lutheran is No. 2 in EYBL Scholastic competition, and both juggernauts are significant contenders to return to the GEICO Nationals this spring.

Back in late December, Montverde defeated Long Island Lutheran, 73-59, in the championship game of the 2023 City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers, Fla.

Montverde presents a tall task for the Crusaders. The Eagles’ 2023-24 line-up includes three former Syracuse basketball recruits: 2024 five-star point guard Robert Wright III (signed with Baylor), 2024 five-star big man Derik Queen, and 2024 four-star point guard Curtis Givens III (signed with LSU).

Other elite high school prospects who play for Montverde include Duke commit Cooper Flagg, a five-star power forward and the No. 1 national prospect in the 2024 class; Indiana commit Liam McNeeley, a 2024 five-star small forward; and Georgia commit Asa Newell, a 2024 five-star power forward.

Anthony received a scholarship offer from the Orange in November of 2022 and took an official visit to the ‘Cuse last October. James, meanwhile, picked up an offer from Syracuse basketball in late August of 2023 and officially visited the Hill the following month, in mid-September.

In EYBL Scholastic play, per the league’s Web site, James is averaging 11.3 points, 4.0 assists and 2.3 rebounds per game, while connecting on 51 percent from the field, 41 percent from beyond the arc and 67 percent from the free-throw line. He is in the starting rotation for Long Island Lutheran.

Anthony, who comes off the bench for the Crusaders, is averaging 8.9 points, 2.6 assists and 1.9 rebounds per contest, while hitting on 42 percent from the field, 35 percent from 3-point land and 82 percent from the charity stripe.