Syracuse Basketball: Landing 4-star Kiyan Anthony would be a 'huge statement play'

Syracuse basketball fans, myself included, are eager and anxious to find out where Kiyan Anthony will ultimately play in college.

The 6-foot-5 Anthony, a 2025 four-star shooting guard and a top-30 national prospect who hails from New York City, is the son of Orange legend Carmelo Anthony, who led the 'Cuse to its only national championship in 2003.

Some Syracuse basketball fanatics, understandably, think it's a lock that Kiyan Anthony will don an Orange uniform down the line. I'm not in that camp, although I do believe that the 'Cuse is a significant contender for him.

Lately, Syracuse basketball has received some analyst buzz for Anthony on various recruiting Web sites. The Orange staff is clearly prioritizing him, watching at least two of Anthony's games on the AAU circuit last month during an NCAA live period.

Anthony, who has received around 20 offers throughout his recruitment, was offered a scholarship by the 'Cuse in November of 2022. In late October of last year, he went on an official visit to the Hill. He's also officially visited Florida State, and several recent media reports indicate that he's eyeing some additional campus visits in the coming months, including a possible return trip to the Orange.

A top expert weighs in on Syracuse basketball and 2025 four-star SG Kiyan Anthony.

Not too long ago, On3 national reporter Joe Tipton, who is extremely plugged in as it pertains to high school hoops and recruiting, joined Brian Higgins for an interview on Cuse Sports Talk. They discussed numerous topics, including Anthony.

Tipton, in speaking with Higgins, reiterated what he shared via his X page on June 3: that in September, Anthony is eyeing potential official visits to Auburn, Ohio State and Indiana. The Hoosiers have recruited Anthony for a while now; Auburn and Ohio State are newer suitors in his recruiting process.

Even with others in pursuit of him, Tipton said that he continues to "firmly believe" that Syracuse basketball is currently the leader in Anthony's recruitment.

This spring, Anthony has proven a standout performer for the 17U squad of the Baltimore-based Team Melo in Nike’s EYBL league. Last month, the EYBL held a session in Indianapolis during the spring's first live evaluation period where college coaches could check out recruiting targets in person.

As I've previously noted, in Indianapolis, per reports, Orange head coach Adrian Autry was in attendance for at least two of Team Melo's games.

On the first night of this session, which was also the first time this spring that coaches could watch high school prospects in person at AAU events, Tipton pointed out that the only head coach in attendance for Anthony was Autry.

Now, other head coaches and assistants watched Anthony throughout this Indianapolis session, but Tipton says it was telling that Autry was the only head coach to be "front and center" for Anthony on the first evening of this inaugural spring live period.

Tipton notes that it would be great for Syracuse basketball fans and the 'Cuse program to have Anthony play on the Hill, more than two decades after his dad brought an NCAA title to Central New York. To that end, Tipton says he thinks it would be "incredibly disappointing" for SU fans and the Orange coaching staff if Anthony heads elsewhere.

Tipton echoed the sentiment of numerous other national analysts and scouts, who have praised Anthony for his improving and expanding all-around game. Anthony has shown experts, on the AAU circuit this spring, that he can of course score with prowess and hit shots from deep.

But he's also playing with increased confidence, getting stronger, and displaying an ability to create scoring opportunities for himself off the dribble.

To that end, Tipton believes that Anthony, a rising senior at the powerhouse Long Island Lutheran High School in Brookville, N.Y., is a prospect who the 'Cuse needs to prevail for, as landing Anthony would prove a "huge statement play" for Autry early on in his head-coaching tenure at Syracuse basketball.

I totally agree with Joe on that last point. By the way, in his chat with Higgins, Tipton also shared some thoughts on several other 2025 prospects, including new Orange five-star commit Sadiq White Jr. as well as four-star priority targets Tyler Jackson and London Jemison. I'd highly recommend listening to Tipton's interview with Higgins in full.