As the sun set on Carmelo Anthony’s illustrious 19-year NBA career in 2022, a new dawn emerged for Anthony’s legacy. The 10x All-Star’s retirement not only marked the end of an era but also put a lot of hope on the next generation of the family, that is Kiyan Anthony. Now, as Kiyan navigates through the high-profile recruitment camps at USC, his father has revealed a pivotal point in his journey.

In a recent video posted on YouTube by “Overtime,” Carmelo Anthony praises his son for his hard work and dedication towards the game. “The fans are starting to see, OK, he’s coming to his own. That’s the most important part,” said Melo in the video. Kiyan is indeed getting noticed for his abilities. He has showcased his abilities with outstanding performances on the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League circuit and also highlighted his scoring prowess in the competition this summer. The list doesn’t end here. This summer was quite productive for the 17-year-old as he had other good stints in the Peach Jam, SLAM Summer Classic, and Rod Wave.

Kiyan is the No. 31 overall prospect in the 2025 class and is also the No. 1 player in New York. However, despite these numbers, an important decision of his life still looms. The 6-foot-5 shooting guard’s college decision is still a work in progress. He has received over 20 offers from various schools, including Michigan, Tennessee, and Maryland. However, he is more focused on joining USC, Rutgers, Ohio State, Auburn, and Florida State, with Syracuse getting the most preference.

During a Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson interview, Kiyan revealed after his last year’s visit to the campus that the way his father was respected in Syracuse, Melo’s alma mater, surprised him. “I just like the atmosphere, you know, obviously my dad went there 20-something years ago, so I just like the atmosphere, I like the family environment,” said Kiyan Anthony in July (as per ‘Parent’.)

The 17-year-old made his 2nd visit to Syracuse on Sept 4 and is aiming to visit other schools like USC and Rutgers in the next few days. As Kiyan continues to make his mark on the recruiting circuit, it is clear that he is more than just Carmelo Anthony’s son. He is a talented young athlete with a bright future ahead of him. We know that Carmelo Anthony is behind Kiyan’s talent, but the Colorado-born has also credited another entity for his prowess.

Kiyan Anthony credits coach Chris Brickley

Kiyan Anthony has expressed his admiration for renowned basketball trainer Chris Brickley, who has played a significant role in his development as a player. The young shooting guard had been training with Brickley since his fifth grade.

In the recent video posted by “OverTime,” Kiyan praised Brickley’s dedication, knowledge, and positive energy. “Chris Brickley, obviously he’s one of the best if not the best trainers in the world,” said the padawan. Brickley has an impressive resume as well. He trained Melo, as an intern, when the power forward played for the New York Knicks. Brickley has even trained NBA greats such as LeBron James and Kevin Durant and NCAA standouts Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd.

Brickley’s expertise and experience have helped Kiyan refine his game and become a more well-rounded player. The positive impact of their relationship is evident in Kiyan’s continued improvement and his aspirations to reach the highest levels of the sport. But only time will tell if he will get into his preferred college.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.