One last hurrah for Kiyan Anthony as a high school basketball star before he moves to his collegiate career. It seems like the perfect way to define the latest achievement for the 17-year-old, who has had an exceptional year. This comes following his recent appearance at the 2024 ACES Hustle & Heart Classic. And as always, he had his parents, La La and Carmelo Anthony, cheering for him.

As announced through an Instagram post by ACES’ official account, Kiyan was leading the charge for the Long Island Crusaders against the Putnam Science Mustangs at the 2024 ACES Hustle & Heart Classic. And boy, did he emerge as a leader, winning the MVP title alongside Kayden Mingo.

The update was shared by the IG account of NBA Future Starts Now. “@_kaydenmingo & @kiyananthony are your co-mvps…” read the caption to the post featuring both players photographed with other team members. While both La La and Carmelo Anthony were present at the game, the Power star could not help but share her son’s big “MVP” moment in her IG story.

Now, this MVP win is just the latest in a series of big moments for Kiyan. Following a stellar run at the EYBL and Top 100 Camp, this event was another chance for him to shine, and he made sure not to waste it. For those who know ACES, you’ll know that it’s where some of the best talents come into play. According to SLAM Online, over 30 NBA and WNBA players and more than 100 Division 1 athletes have been through its ranks.

This weekend, though, it was all about the young ballers with big dreams, and Carmelo Anthony’s son wasted no time making his mark, dropping 22 points in the first half alone! It’s clear he’s not letting any opportunity slip away, especially with the next chapter of his basketball journey right around the corner. Yep, it’s almost time for the big reveal—where he’ll be playing college ball.

In a recent chat with NBA draft analyst Krysten Peek, Kiyan shared that he has narrowed down his list to three schools: Syracuse, USC, and Auburn. While there’s plenty of speculation about him landing at Syracuse, the decision isn’t official yet. One thing, however, is clear: the 17-year-old has already come a long way in his basketball career, especially considering that destiny could’ve led him onto a different path.

Basketball was not the first choice for Carmelo Anthony’s son

During the USA Basketball junior minicamp from October 11-13 in Colorado Springs, Kiyan shared a surprising detail with Pro Insight’s Tyler Glazier. His first love was actually baseball! “I mean, baseball was my first sport,” he said, reminiscing about those early days.

So, how did he make the switch? It turns out a basketball tryout changed everything. The now 17-year-old made the team, and while he wasn’t getting much playtime initially, he found himself enjoying the experience. “… I had a lot of fun, like going on trips and stuff.” And as time went on, he got better and better, and that’s when basketball began to take over.

He described the moment when things shifted–“Once I started making plays on the court, I realized how fun basketball was.” With every game, his focus on basketball grew, even as he held onto his love for baseball. But by around age 12, his path was clear. “I just let baseball go,” he explained. And considering his recent MVP paired with his successful run this year, no one can question the decision Carmelo Anthony’s 17-year-old son made for himself.