Syracuse basketball 2025 commit Kiyan Anthony, the four-star shooting guard, has played a key role in recent days as his surging New York state program has knocked off some of the best squads in high school hoops.
The 6-foot-5 Anthony, a top-30 national prospect and one of four signees in the Orange's top-10 national class in the 2025 cycle, and Long Island Lutheran High School in Brookville, N.Y., are one victory away from earning an automatic bid to the eight-team Chipotle Nationals, which will transpire from April 3 to April 5 in Fishers, Ind., and ultimately crown a national champion in high school basketball.
On Saturday, March 8, beginning at noon from North Augusta, S.C, No. 7 seed Long Island Lutheran will face the No. 8 seed Link Academy in Branson, Mo., in the title game of the EYBL Scholastic conference tournament. The squad that triumphs will receive an auto berth to next month's Chipotle Nationals.
The last time @LuHiBasketball lost a game was at the City of Palms.
— Paul Biancardi (@PaulBiancardi) March 7, 2025
That’s 18 in a row! https://t.co/0KtqRxxNzk
Long Island Lutheran and Link are part of the loaded 14-member Nike Elite Youth Basketball League Scholastic ("EYBL Scholastic"), which is arguably the country's premier high school hoops conference.
Syracuse basketball commit Kiyan Anthony is on a tear of late.
On Friday, in the semifinals of the EYBL Scholastic conference tournament, Long Island Lutheran beat the No. 3 seed, CIA Bella Vista in Phoenix, by a final count of 58-52, according to a box score provided by our friends at Legit Sport Stats.
.@LuHiBasketball punches its ticket to the #EYBLScholastic tournament championship on Saturday after grinding out a, 58-52, win over CIA @BellaVistaHoops.
— League Ready (@LeagueRDY) March 7, 2025
How?
✅+8 in the paint
✅18 points off of 15 CIA turnovers
✅Held CIA to 33% FG in the 4th quarter pic.twitter.com/IdbvAvN8cP
Anthony, in this triumph, finished with a game-high 16 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals. CIA Bella Vista, which is also a significant contender to make the Chipotle Nationals, has a 2024-25 roster that includes four prospects who hold scholarship offers from the 'Cuse.
In earlier contests from this tourney, Long Island Lutheran knocked off No. 10 seed Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va., and then No. 2 seed Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H. Anthony was fabulous in those two wins, producing a combined 45 points.
.@LuHiBasketball marches on to the semis of the #EYBLScholastic conference tournament after taking down @BrewsterHoops, 58-52.
— League Ready (@LeagueRDY) March 6, 2025
How did the Crusaders get it done?
✅ Turned 10 BA turnovers into 10 points
✅+8 on the glass
✅Shot 78% from the field in the 4th quarter pic.twitter.com/RtbIn4d8QC
How did No. 3 @LuHiBasketball advance in the opening round of the #EYBLScholastic Conference Tournament, pulling out the, 71-61, win over @oakhillhoops?
— League Ready (@LeagueRDY) March 5, 2025
✅+28 in the paint
✅Shot 61.5% FG in the 4th quarter
✅Turned 17 OH turnovers into 19 points
(Stats powered by… pic.twitter.com/TUXYDMo8pu
Two of the standouts for Link are a pair of former Syracuse basketball recruiting targets. They are 2025 five-star center and top-10 national prospect Chris Cenac Jr., who is committed to Houston, and 2025 four-star combo guard and top-40 national prospect Jerry Easter II, who is pledged to Southern California.
As far as I can tell, even if Long Island Lutheran loses on Saturday to Link, Anthony and his teammates are still very much in the hunt for an invite to early April's Chipotle Nationals.