Syracuse Basketball: 4-stars Nigel James, Kiyan Anthony go off for No. 2-ranked LuHi

Syracuse basketball 2025 four-star priority recruits Nigel James and Kiyan Anthony were fabulous in a Saturday afternoon win for their highly ranked team from New York.

Over the past few days, their squad, Long Island Lutheran High School in Brookville, N.Y., was winding down its 2023-24 regular season in North Augusta, S.C.

Long Island Lutheran suits up in the country’s top high school hoops conference, the 14-member Nike Elite Youth Basketball League Scholastic (“EYBL Scholastic”).

In North Augusta this past Friday and Saturday, the Crusaders faced fellow EYBL Scholastic groups the Wasatch Academy from Mount Pleasant, Utah, and the Canyon International Academy from Phoenix. Long Island Lutheran went 2-0 in those affairs, according to social media posts.

A pair of Syracuse basketball four-star targets put forth strong performances.

On Friday, Long Island Lutheran defeated Wasatch, 66-52. A day later, on Saturday, the Crusaders thumped Canyon International, 83-55.

In Saturday’s victory, the 6-foot James and the 6-foot-5 Anthony had themselves a day, according to statistics provided by Legit Sport Stats.

James, in 25 minutes, finished with 20 points, 10 assists, six rebounds and one steal. He connected on 7-of-8 from the field, 4-of-4 from beyond the arc and 2-of-2 from the free-throw line.

Anthony, meanwhile, logged 23 minutes. He generated 14 points, two boards, two assists and one steal. Anthony hit on 5-of-13 from the field, 2-of-7 from deep and 2-of-2 from the charity stripe.

Long Island Lutheran, as a collective unit, dominated Canyon International on the glass, 42-23. The Crusaders had 11 steals and forced 13 turnovers. Long Island Lutheran boasted a great shooting afternoon, making 52 percent from the field, 41 percent from 3-point land and 71 percent from the free-throw line.

Long Island Lutheran is the No. 2 team in the loaded EYBL Scholastic. In the latest national rankings for high school basketball, MaxPreps had the Crusaders at No. 2 overall, while ESPN placed Long Island Lutheran at No. 3 nationally.

Recently, several high school analysts have told me that the Crusaders are a virtual lock to get an invite to the eight-team Chipotle Nationals, which will take place in early April in Brownsburg, Ind., ultimately crowning a national champion.

James and Anthony, who both hold ‘Cuse scholarship offers, are top targets of the Syracuse basketball coaching staff in the 2025 class.

A top-100 national prospect and a top-20 point guard, James officially visited the Orange in mid-September of last year.

Anthony, a top-40 overall player and a top-10 shooting guard, took an official visit to Syracuse basketball in late October of 2023.