So far this spring on the AAU circuit, Syracuse basketball 2025 four-star priority recruit Kiyan Anthony from New York City is off to a blazing hot start.
In fact, a top national analyst recently highlighted how the 6-foot-5 shooting guard is among the top performers to date in grassroots basketball.
The son of Orange legend Carmelo Anthony, Kiyan Anthony received a scholarship offer from his dad's alma mater in November of 2022. He holds a variety of other high-major offers, including a newer one from Arizona State.
Last October, the rising high school senior took an official visit to the Hill, and he's also officially visited fellow Atlantic Coast Conference school Florida State. Let's see if Kiyan ends up scheduling more official visits in the coming months.
Anthony is a standout for the 17U squad of the Baltimore-based Team Melo in Nike’s EYBL league. The EYBL has held two sessions at this point, in Memphis, Tenn., and then in the Atlanta area.
Per this league's Web site, Anthony is averaging 19.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. In the EYBL's 17U division, he's currently tied for No. 13 in points per contest and tied for No. 16 in boards per encounter.
Analysts and scouts are raving about the AAU performances of Syracuse basketball recruit Kiyan Anthony.
This coming weekend, amid an NCAA live period, the EYBL will hold its third session, in Indianapolis. I'll be curious to see whether the Orange staff checks out Anthony during this first spring evaluation period.
In a recent piece, Rivals.com national analyst Jason Jordan looked at some prospects who are playing at an ultra-high level this spring on the AAU circuit. He noted that these players, during the 2023-24 high school season, suited up for programs where highly ranked upperclassmen were the primary focal point.
Jordan discussed Anthony in his article. In 2023-24, Anthony was a key reserve for the top-five national squad Long Island Lutheran High School in Brookville, N.Y. However, the top standout for Long Island Lutheran was another shooting guard, 2024 five-star prospect and top-five national player VJ Edgecombe, who is committed to Baylor.
In 2024-25, Edgecombe will be competing for the Bears in the Big 12 Conference, and I believe that Anthony is poised for big things as a senior at Long Island Lutheran.
Jordan wrote that this past stanza, Anthony did have to take a backseat to Edgecombe, however, Anthony's stellar play in grassroots basketball this spring could be a sign of what's to come for Melo's son in the 2024-25 high school term.
Regarding his performances to date for Team Melo, the Rivals.com national analyst said in part, "Anthony’s ability to use his 6-foot-6 frame to maneuver into the lane then step out and efficiently knock down 3-pointers has been devastating for the opposition."
Currently, the industry-generated 247Sports Composite and the industry-generated On3 Industry Ranking place Anthony within the top 40 nationally of the 2025 cycle. On3, meanwhile, ranks him at No. 29 overall, No. 7 at shooting guard and No. 1 in New York within Anthony's class.