Two months ago, Carmelo Anthony’s son Kiyan’s season opener had fans buzzing with excitement—until a sudden twist silenced the cheers. After a gravity-defying dunk, Kiyan took a hard fall that sidelined him in November. But now, the Syracuse commit and rising basketball star is back, and what a return it was! Leading Long Island Lutheran Boys Varsity Elite, Kiyan didn’t just step onto the court; he owned it, helping his team cruise to a solid win.

Meanwhile, the buzz wasn’t just on the court. While fans were pumped to see Kiyan back, it seems Bryce James, son of LeBron James, was just as thrilled. Sharing the news on Instagram, Bryce kept it simple yet impactful: “Right to it.” That three-word caption summed up the excitement around Kiyan’s return, signaling respect from a close friend and former rival.

And Kiyan absolutely delivered. In his comeback debut at the La Porte Invitational, he came off the bench and scored an impressive 11 points on 3-of-8 shooting, including one three-pointer. His stat line also featured 2 assists and 1 rebound. The game itself kept everyone on the edge of their seats, with 15 lead changes before Long Island Lutheran clinched the 61-53 win over Veritas Academy.

But Kiyan wasn’t the only one shining. Teammates Kayden Mingo and Nigel James put up big numbers too. Mingo led the team with 15 points, while James added 13. Meanwhile, Dylan Mingo, a five-star recruit, chipped in 10 points and 8 rebounds. On the other side, Veritas Academy’s Aram Soqui-Urbano turned heads with a game-high 17 points, hitting five three-pointers in the loss.

Now with Kiyan back in action, Long Island Lutheran looks like a championship contender. But what really happened that day in November?

The season opener didn’t go Kiyan’s way

Like every rising star, Kiyan Anthony was hyped for his season opener after committing to Syracuse, following in his dad Carmelo Anthony’s footsteps. The Long Island Lutheran Boys Varsity Elite tipped off their 2024-2025 campaign, and Kiyan was ready to shine. But what started with so much promise almost ended in disaster. A high-flying dunk followed by a hard foul threatened to sideline him before the season even got underway.

Interestingly, LuHi looked unstoppable in their opener against St. Joseph’s Collegiate, cruising to a dominant 74-35 win at Visscher Gym. With national championship hopes riding high, the team wasted no time setting the tone for the season. Their chemistry on the court was electric, even as Kiyan’s night took a dramatic turn.

Speaking of individual performances, Kiyan had 16 points in the game, and Dylan Mingo chipped in with 14. Kayden Mingo nearly bagged a triple-double, finishing with 12 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, and five steals. Late in the fourth quarter, Kiyan’s energy peaked with a soaring dunk. Moments later, he drove to the basket again, only to be fouled mid-air by Nate Blenman, crashing down hard on his back.

At the time, fans were concerned, but a quick update eased fears. A sportswriter tweeted, quoting Kiyan: “Thought it was unintentional, but he kind of undercut me… I should be all good.” Though he said he’d miss just a few days, it ultimately took two months for Kiyan to return to the court and reclaim his place.