NBA legacies aren’t just built on fathers’ success anymore. The new battle is unfolding between their sons, and in the race for the next big name, Alijah Arenas seems to be leaving Kiyan Anthony in the dust.

Kiyan Anthony, the 6’5″ shooting guard from Long Island Lutheran High School, is ranked No. 32 in the Class of 2025, according to ESPN. Meanwhile, Alijah, a year younger and already a 5-star prospect, sits comfortably at No. 13 in the Class of 2026. Given Alijah’s higher ranking, many fans speculate that he would have the advantage in a direct matchup against Kiyan.

And honestly, the stats back it up. In early 2024, Kiyan Anthony averaged 10.3 points, 2.4 assists, and 2.3 rebounds per game. But Alijah? He’s been torching defenses with 30+ points per game every season. That kind of consistency is hard to ignore.

Kiyan has shown significant improvement since then, particularly during his impressive EYBL run last year and his performance at the top 100 camp.  But then came the real turning point for the comparison between the two. The 2025 McDonald’s All-American game.

Due to a back injury, Kiyan Anthony was unable to maintain his eligibility, while Alijah secured his spot. As Monday’s game approached, fans couldn’t stop raving about the former Golden State Warriors star’s son.

Gilbert Arenas shared the post, causing fans to lose their minds over Alijah.

Major support for Alijah Arenas erupts even before the McDonald’s All-American game

Making the McDonald’s All-American Boys roster is impressive enough, but what makes Alijah Arenas’ selection even more special? His age. Born on March 16, 2007, Alijah is just 18 and one of the youngest on the list. One fan wasted no time pointing that out, writing, “Remember he reclassified too … he da youngest out there 🔥🪣 COOKING.”

Some fans were so impressed that they made bold predictions even before the McDonald’s All-American Boys game tipped off. “Player of the Game calling it rn,” wrote one.

Well, Alijah’s praise seemed to be a popular opinion in the comment section. The fact that Alijah was averaging over 30 points per game from his freshman season at Chatsworth High School speaks volumes about why the majority would be impressed by the 18-year-old. “Dat boy good yeah [thumbs up emoji],” wrote one such supporter.

However, it’s not as if there was no criticism at all for Alijah. “He struggling big time went scoreless and 0/8 it think. Needs to get stronger offensively and defensively,” wrote an IG user. He, however, did not mention which game he was referring to. Seeing his offensive proficiency during his high school days, it’s hard not to be impressed by it.

No wonder yet another IG user made a bold prediction for Alijah’s future. “He better than all them not gone lie he gone most the successful career outta all them burger boys this year he the most polished,” he wrote. That’s some serious praise, especially when legends like MJ, Kobe, and LeBron have been part of this event. Alijah Arenas’ meteoric rise proves that raw talent can outshine family legacies. While Kiyan Anthony’s injury may have slowed his momentum, his next moves will determine whether he can reclaim the spotlight.