To no one’s surprise, Kiyan Anthony showed up and showed out at The Throne Championship—one of the most stacked high school basketball tournaments in the country. The 18-year-old dropped 25 points, grabbed five boards, dished three assists, and shot an impressive 9-for-15 from the field. He led Long Island Lutheran to a big win over Allen High School from Texas. If there was ever a moment that screamed “future star,” this was it. Naturally, the win didn’t just come with bragging rights.

Long Island Lutheran secured a sweet $10,000 prize, courtesy of the National Basketball Players Association. But the real MVP moment? That came from his mom, La La Anthony, who couldn’t hold back her pride. She lit up social media with a simple, heartfelt message: “MVP!!! Always making me so proud @kiyananthony,” followed by a gold award and a red heart emoji.

Meanwhile, Kiyan’s next move is already set in stone. Instead of heading west to USC, he chose to stay on the East Coast and follow in his father’s footsteps by committing to Syracuse University. The announcement came straight from the family camp—via a YouTube video and an appearance on Carmelo Anthony’s 7PM in Brooklyn podcast. And according to Melo, Kiyan’s not just walking in his shadow.

“[Kiyan] has skills that I didn’t have. His court vision at this level is very high. His shot-making ability is high… people look at him for being able to make shots and take away from his actual playmaking and IQ of the game,” Melo said.

Still, before he suits up in that orange jersey, Kiyan’s keeping his foot on the gas. A recent Instagram post from trainer Chris Joseph Brickley showed the 17-year-old completely drained on the bench. Chris kept it real in the caption: “Exhausted for a reason @kiyananthony‼️”

And yet, the grind doesn’t stop there. Brickley added, “We leveling up for what’s next! Today we had one of the toughest running type workouts we have ever had. It’s almost that time!! 🎯It’s deeper than training for me. If you’re not growing at the pace I expect, I hold myself accountable! This becomes personal because I want the players I work with to feel their ultimate best 🏁.”

Kiyan is set to join the Orange for the 2025-26 season and Melo has made clear that he wants Kiyan locked in throughout his time in college. It is not so much about winning as it is about developing for the NBA star. “You don’t have no time for anything else. It’s books and ball,” he says, while reminding his son to have fun. But Melo needn’t worry.

The young talent is set on getting to the campus as soon as possible, possibly first week of May, and “lock in fully to basketball and put all distractions aside.” He admits he’s already in the gym everyday, getting ready to get the crowd back alive in Syracuse. He is also seeking a little help from his soon-to-be Hall-of-Famer father– Melo is going to be present for every game, hyping the Orange.

So, the 17-year-old has it all planned out. He wants to grow, he wants to win, if not the title, then at least more than a few games to get the energy up. Syracuse has locked itself a pretty fine prospect. He is gearing up, and he is doing so not just at the gym, but in tourneys, winning big.

Kiyan Anthony named 2025 Jordan Brand Classic MVP

Kiyan Anthony is that guy. At the 2025 Jordan Brand Classic, the 6’5” Syracuse commit didn’t just show up, he stole the show. Scoring 26 points on a blazing 11-of-15 shooting clip, plus five rebounds, Kiyan led Team Air to a 141-124 win over Team Flight and walked away with MVP honors. This wasn’t just another game—it was personal. Especially after missing out on McDonald’s All-American selection.

Not long after the win, Kiyan shared a quiet but powerful message on Instagram, writing, “I made the list,” tagging none other than Gilbert Arenas. The former NBA All-Star has backed Kiyan hard over the past year, especially after the McDonald’s snub. “The king of New York was not invited to the McDonald’s All-American game in New York,” Arenas had said earlier, putting the spotlight on what many felt was an unfair omission.

Still, Kiyan let his game do the talking. He squared off against top-tier names like Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer and didn’t flinch. While A.J. Dybantsa dropped 25 points and nine boards, it was Kiyan who controlled the show. And with a commitment to Syracuse—where his dad carved out history—he knows the bar is high.

Yet for Carmelo Anthony, this moment was bigger than basketball. “My story has always been more than basketball… My legacy, my son, it’s in you,” he said.

Now, Kiyan stands at the edge of a journey that could mirror—or even surpass—his father’s. And if this MVP moment is any clue, he’s ready.