After the final whistle at the Paris Olympics echoed through the city, most athletes sunk into much-needed rest. But for the dynamic father-son duo of Carmelo Anthony and Kiyan, the action was just heating up. Fresh off watching the basketball gold medal games in Paris, the 10× NBA All-Star and his son made a swift return to New York to catch another epic final—this time at Nike’s ‘NY vs NY’ tournament.

A recent video shared by The Score on Instagram had fans buzzing. The caption read, “Druski was HYPED to meet Melo 🤣🤝,” capturing the excitement of American comedian and actor Druski as he greeted Carmelo Anthony at the event. The brief clip quickly went viral, showcasing the light-hearted moment between the two celebrities, with Druski clearly star-struck.

Although 3× Olympic gold medalist Melo was undoubtedly a significant presence at the event, it was Druski who stole the show as he crowned the champions of the court. The players from Dyckman emerged victorious against Uptown, clinching the title in a hard-fought battle. Nike’s ‘NY vs NY’ official page highlighted this moment with a video post, stating, “NEW CHAMPS HAVE BEEN CROWNED 👑 DYCKMAN CAPS A PHENOMENAL SEASON WITH A BIG WIN OVER UPTOWN. ONE STORY ENDS. ANOTHER ONE BEGINS. ✍”

Of course, Melo wasn’t the only NBA personality to grace the tournament. Just days earlier, Nike celebrated hoops and sneaker culture at ‘NY vs NY’ with appearances from Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant. Earlier this year, other NBA stars like Ben Simmons, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Kyrie Irving also made an appearance at the tournament.

Interestingly, while Carmelo was making his rounds, Kiyan was notably absent by his side—at least for a while. After an hour, the official ‘NY vs NY’ page on Instagram became active with a post that said: NO 1 NAME IN NYC IS REPPING BIG BROOKLYN 🍿🍿🍿 KIYAN IS IN THE BUILDING. But why Kiyan is the “No.1 name in NYC“?

Carmelo Anthony’s son named New York state’s top basketball recruit

ESPN ranked Kiyan Anthony, son of NBA legend Carmelo Anthony and actress La La Anthony, as the top high school basketball recruit in New York State for the class of 2025. The young shooting guard is making waves, not just locally, but nationally, securing the 40th spot overall in his high school class.

Moreover, Kiyan’s performances on the court are backing up the hype. According to Vibe.com, the rising star dropped 42 points in one game and 35 in another at the NBPA Top 100 Camp, showcasing his scoring prowess. His stellar play has caught the eye of top Division I programs, with schools like Indiana, Michigan, Florida State, and Syracuse extending offers.

Interestingly, Syracuse, where his father famously won a national championship in 2003, seems to be a standout option. In 2023, Kiyan even made an official visit to Syracuse, posing in a jersey alongside his father, sparking rumors that he might follow in Melo’s footsteps. Though he hasn’t committed to any school yet, the idea of continuing his father’s legacy at Syracuse is generating plenty of excitement and speculation.

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