Syracuse Basketball: How 4-star Kiyan Anthony could make his own legacy at the 'Cuse

Kiyan Anthony is a 6’4 shooting guard ranked 6th nationally at his position by 247Sports in the 2025 class. He also happens to be the son of Carmelo and La La Anthony.

This does not mean he is a lock to follow his dad to Syracuse basketball (though Syracuse has offered and he has visited) because he still has not made his choice public, but Cuse is one of two teams he finally narrowed it down to and will announce this week.

Some might think that Syracuse is a bad choice because he will be practicing in a facility named after his father and the man who helped lead the men’s Syracuse basketball team to its only championship.

But I see it differently. I think he can use that amazing facility to improve his game but show he is his own man, carving out his own legacy in Orange. I think if the player I’ve seen highlights of comes to Syracuse and plays hard, he will be remembered as Kiyan more than just Melo’s son.

Let me explain.

How Kiyan Anthony could make his own legacy with the Syracuse basketball program.

Yes, for many fans, we know of him because of his father’s legacy, as not many fans watch high school basketball unless their kid is playing. Heck, he might even get NIL offers because of his name initially, but is that really a bad thing?

And yes, Kiyan will likely be at Wegmans someday as someone my age tells him how much he loved watching his dad play and hopes he’s as good as him. It will happen.

But here’s the thing, if you watch this young man play, you will see he’s talented and getting better all the time. I’ve recently watched some highlight videos of him and I like his game.

He’s a high school senior who can hit from outside and drive inside as well. He will make a pass to an open player or for an alley-oop. And I mention the high school part to remind you he’s still young and can get even better and even bigger, too.

If Kiyan can come to Syracuse and play his game with the intention of playing hard and being a good teammate, I promise you he will be praised for his play. Yes, he will still occasionally have a troll or older fans who want to talk about his dad, but I promise you that he has the ability to play at Syracuse and also make his own legacy. Fans will cheer him on for making the plays and not for his dad.

Syracuse has had legacy players before and they were embraced for what they brought to the court as well. Brandon Triche was as gritty and tough of a guard as this team ever had. Andy Rautins was a tremendous player who could be lights out from the three on any given game day.

Heck, I’m old enough to go back to seeing Danny Schayes play at Syracuse, and he became one of my favorites to watch as a kid (along with Leo Rautins).

My point is this, Kiyan can be Kiyan at Syracuse and doesn’t have to be Carmelo to be successful. Anyone who expects him to be Melo is naive and ignorant and only hindering the bright future this young man can have.

But if you open your eyes and see the potential he can be to be his own man, you’ll see a player who can make the men’s Syracuse basketball program better not by being the son of Melo but by being himself and learning and growing in a program that can use his abilities.

I don’t know where Kiyan will play and I don’t know how well his college career will go. But I do know that he can come to Syracuse and be loved simply based on what he brings to the program if he chooses to do so, which this Cuse fan truly hopes he does.

Not because of his dad but because I believe he’s a talented young man who will make the team better, and the university can make him better, too.