Syracuse Basketball: Adrian Autry sees 4-stars Nigel James, Kiyan Anthony stun champs

Playing in front of Syracuse basketball head coach Adrian Autry, Orange legend Carmelo Anthony and a national television audience, the powerhouse Long Island Lutheran High School in Brookville, N.Y., dominated the defending national champions on Friday night at a prestigious annual event in the Sunshine State.

Autry was on hand to check out Syracuse basketball 2025 priority recruits Kiyan Anthony, a four-star shooting guard and Melo’s son, as well as Nigel James, a four-star point guard.

The 6-foot-5 Anthony, who received a ‘Cuse offer in November of last year, went on an official visit to Syracuse basketball toward the end of October. He is a top-40 national prospect and a top-10 shooting guard in his class.

The 6-foot James, who picked up a scholarship offer from the Orange in late August, took an official visit to the Hill shortly thereafter, in mid-September. He is a top-100 overall player in his cycle, and to me, James is vastly underrated in the 2025 class.

Two Syracuse basketball recruits helped their team spring a massive victory in Florida.

On Friday evening, at the 2023 City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers, Fla., Long Island Lutheran faced off against Link Academy in Branson, Mo., which captured the 2023 GEICO Nationals, the equivalent of a national title in high school basketball.

Both of these programs are members of the newly formed and loaded 14-member high school conference, the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League Scholastic (“EYBL Scholastic”).

Playing on ESPNU in the City of Palms Classic semifinals, Long Island Lutheran held an advantage of 20 or more points throughout this encounter, and the Crusaders ended up scoring a 76-63 triumph over Link.

In the latest national team rankings from ESPN, Link is No. 3 and Long Island Lutheran is No. 4. MaxPreps, in a set of national ratings that only includes squads that don’t compete for state-affiliated championships, Long Island Lutheran is No. 2, while Link is No. 4.

Against Link, James, who starts for the Crusaders, tallied 13 points, three rebounds and two assists. He connected on 6-of-10 from the field. I was impressed with how lightning-quick James is, and he also made some fabulous passes in this contest.

Anthony, meanwhile, comes off the bench for Long Island Lutheran. Versus the Lions, he was 2-of-4 from the field, notching six points, two boards and one assist.

A few days ago at the City of Palms Classic, both Melo and ‘Cuse associate head coach Gerry McNamara, who won a national championship together at Syracuse basketball in 2003, were in the house for another Long Island Lutheran affair.

With Friday night’s win, the Crusaders move on to the title game at the City of Palms Classic. On Saturday evening, beginning at 9 pm and on ESPNU, Long Island Lutheran will battle the nation’s No. 1 group, the juggernaut Montverde Academy in Montverde, Fla.

The Eagles’ absolutely stacked line-up features three former Syracuse basketball targets. They are 2024 five-star big man Derik Queen, who is uncommitted at this juncture, along with 2024 four-star point guard Robert Wright III (committed to Baylor), and 2024 four-star point guard Curtis Givens III (committed to LSU).

Get your popcorn ready.