Will Carmelo Anthony be able to re-create or surpass his father’s basketball legacy? A question that often pops up in the minds of Melo fans. The first test to this could have been Kiyan’s Syracuse legacy as his father led the University to their lone NCAA championship in the single season he was there. It seems, however, we’ll get a glimpse of Kiyan being held to Melo’s standards this year itself.

On Wednesday, the nominees for the prestigious McDonald’s All-American Games were announced on Instagram. If you’ve been following Kiyan’s journey, his name among the 4 nominees might not come as a surprise. The announcement came from the Instagram account of LuHi Basketball, celebrating the four Long Island Lutheran High School nominees.

“Congrats to Kiyan, NJ, Kayden, and Nick on being nominated for McDonald’s All American honors,” the post read. As most fans would know, the McDonald’s All-American Games are no ordinary showcase. They’ve been a launchpad for basketball greats like Kobe Bryant, Trae Young, Candace Parker, and Caitlin Clark. Even Carmelo Anthony received the honor of being among McDonald’s All American in 2002.

Every year, only 24 boys and 24 girls make the final roster, which means Kiyan’s journey isn’t over yet. It’s to be seen if he’ll make the final cut and level his father at the first step of his basketball legacy. With his ranking as the 33rd overall player in the 2025 class by 247Sports and standout performances at Nike’s EYBL and the Top 100 Basketball Camp, he’s certainly in the spotlight.

Carmelo Anthony’s 17-year-old, however, isn’t just chasing his father’s legacy on the court. Like Melo, Kiyan is aiming for off-the-court achievements too. At 17, he’s already showing entrepreneurial flair with his clothing brand, One Way.

If you’re into streetwear, you might want to check out his latest merch drop. Influencer Tylil James modeled the new collection on One Way’s Instagram. This paired with his All-American nomination, Kiyan will be riding high on success on his way to Syracuse next season. His work, however, at LuHi is still not done.

Carmelo Anthony’s son desires to “win everything” before heading to Syracuse

Kiyan is determined to make his senior year one to remember before heading to Syracuse University. After an injury in the season opener sidelined him, the 17-year-old has returned stronger, intending to lead the Long Island Lutheran Crusaders to glory.

During a practice session, Kiyan opened up to PIX11 News about his big goals for the season. When asked about his mission at LuHi, his answer was as focused as ever. “I’m trying to win, win any game.” But for him, winning just one game isn’t enough. He has his eyes on much bigger prizes.

He stated with confidence his team could win anything, including the Nationals. That drive comes from past experiences, where things didn’t always go as planned. Reflecting on those challenges, he added, “Coming off past games, not having the results we ultimately wanted, being a big team in Columbus. Now just that’s momentum to keep winning and going to Nationals, going to the in-season tournament. Just try to win everything.”

And win they have. The Crusaders are riding a six-game winning streak, holding a 9-5 overall record. Kiyan’s return during the La Porte Invitational was no small moment either. Coming off the bench, he showed flashes of brilliance, scoring 11 points, including a three-pointer, and contributing two assists and a rebound. Now it’s to be seen if he gets the chance to showcase his skills at McDonald’s All-American as well.