Kiyan Anthony might’ve missed the chance to replicate his father’s McDonald’s All-American honor, but the major opportunity remains. Yep, we’re referring to the legacy that he could build at his father’s alma mater. The 17-year-old announced his commitment to Syracuse this past November, sitting by Carmelo Anthony’s side. Though Melo has been clear on his refrained involvement in the decision, a different result would definitely tug at his heartstrings.

Appearing on the Tamron Hall Show, the New York Knicks star first cheered on the turnout. “We did it,” he says, before continuing to admit there are certain schools that one just can’t go against the “family” on. He explained the situation mostly exists in the football scenario than in basketball. “But this is a situation where we talk about… Longevity… Legacy… Passing the torch on…” Melo, however, understands this also to be an opportunity to remain in the community and bring a different energy to not just Syracuse but New York in general.

“Because when Syracuse is winning and they playing well… it’s New York’s team. And I want to get that energy back.” Following this, Carmelo Anthony was asked about the conversation he had with Kiyan regarding the unfair pressure that comes with the Syracuse move as Melo once led the university to their only NCAA championship.

Melo admitted he initially had no major conversation with his son regarding the decision in order to avoid the impression that he wanted Kiyan to lean toward Syracuse. It was only after the 17-year-old had made his decision that Carmelo Anthony spoke to his son about it.

“I was able to lay out what is in front… The good, the bad, what to expect, what not to expect. But also what I did 20-something years ago is 20-something years ago… So you have an opportunity to live off of that legacy but also create a whole new lane… For this new generation,” Melo said.

However, it’s not as if Melo has had no influence in shaping his son’s career journey. The revelation came to light when Kiyan spoke to Interview magazine in November last year. The 17-year-old was asked about the significance of announcing his decision in Red Hook on his father’s podcast channel. Kiyan revealed that one of Melo’s main goals with his podcast was to come back to Red Hook and get back to the community.

“So me being from Brooklyn and living with my mom, it’s not too far of a commute. It’s all coming together and it’s all part of the blueprint. My dad has a plan for me and I’ve just got to stick to it,” Kiyan said. Makes you wonder how Kiyan missed something as important as McDonald’s American despite other NBA sons Alijah Arenas, Cameron Boozer, and Cayden Boozer. What happened to the blueprint, you ask? Well, there’s an explanation.

Why did Carmelo Anthony’s son fail to earn a spot at McDonald’s All-American?

Sure, Kiyan’s 2024 season at Long Island Lutheran didn’t start with fireworks. He was putting up 10.3 points, 2.4 assists, and 2.3 rebounds per game—not bad, but not eye-popping either. But here’s the thing: he didn’t stay there.

Once the EYBL run kicked in, Kiyan turned it up, averaging 19.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. Not just an improvement, but a statement. And then came the real show. At the Top 100 Camp, Carmelo Anthony’s 17-year-old didn’t just show up—he dominated. He led all scorers, averaging an impressive 28.5 points over eight games.

And who could forget the 42-point explosion? Numbers like that should have made him a lock for the McDonald’s All-American roster, right? Well, not exactly. The issue wasn’t his skill—it was the rules. Remember that nasty fall he took back in November while throwing down a dunk? That injury sidelined him until January.

And here’s where the McDonald’s All-American eligibility rules came in: players must complete at least 50 percent of their senior season. With so much missed time, Kiyan was out before he even had a chance. So, if you were wondering why his name wasn’t on the list, now you know. It wasn’t about his game—it was just bad timing. Let’s just hope luck favors him enough to replicate a similar or higher success than his father at Syracuse.