It remains to be seen how many games Syracuse basketball will win in the upcoming season, or if the Orange will return to the NCAA Tournament following a four-year absence.
But this 2025-26 campaign for the 'Cuse will be fun. No doubt about it.
A big reason why is that Kiyan Anthony is a freshman shooting guard on the Orange's roster, and we all know that his dad is Syracuse basketball legend Carmelo Anthony.
Before he became a Hall of Famer, freshman Carmelo Anthony put Syracuse on his back, leading the Orange to its first-ever national championship.
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) September 8, 2025
More than two decades later, his son Kiyan is about to begin his freshman season at Cuse.
This is LEGACY: https://t.co/Z8nz7ywRmp pic.twitter.com/sCOTREsu6e
Melo, last weekend, was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame not once, but twice. He was inducted for his storied individual career and also for being a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic squad, better known as the "Redeem Team."
Jim Boeheim, the legendary former Syracuse basketball head coach, was also inducted for a second time last weekend. He was an assistant coach for the Redeem Team.
Syracuse basketball head coach Adrian Autry dishes on Melo and his son.
Even though he has other business ventures, and will enter into broadcasting, Carmelo Anthony will also be on the Hill for many of his son's games. How exciting will that be?
Throughout Kiyan Anthony's recruiting process, his famous dad always maintained that his son's college decision would be his, and his only. That, according to Orange head coach Adrian Autry, has prepared the younger Anthony for what's ahead in the 2025-26 campaign and beyond.
"You can tell that they have a special relationship and (Kiyan) was ready to accept the challenge just the way Melo accepted his challenge," Autry told Syracuse.com's Mike Waters. "You know, the apple doesn’t fall (far) from the tree."
That father & son bond 💯
— NBA (@NBA) September 6, 2025
Kiyan Anthony presents Melo his @Hoophall orange jacket! pic.twitter.com/N4hHPNhoVA
Autry added that he believes Kiyan Anthony is "ready for the journey ahead." What I find awesome is that the Syracuse basketball head coach says that Anthony, who comes from a famous family and has more than 1 million followers on Instagram, doesn't want to be treated any differently from his teammates, he works hard, and he's "just one of the guys."
There must be some level of pressure on Kiyan, given that his dad led the Orange to its only national title in 2003. Melo is a Hall of Famer. But, as Autry said, Carmelo Anthony is also a just "a parent. He’s a father. I don’t think he wants to be treated any different, but he will be because he is Carmelo."
Autry is right. When Melo is on the Hill at games, he will be treated differently. He's a Syracuse basketball legend. I can't wait to see him in the stands. And watch Kiyan on the court.