“The blueprint is already laid. If you follow the blueprint, the blueprint will get you there.” Those words weren’t just a proud father’s musings—they were Carmelo Anthony’s confidence in a bigger vision. A vision that wasn’t about Kiyan walking in his exact footsteps, but one that still had a clear route to success. Back in 2024, Carmelo had opened up about that roadmap in an article by Black Sports Online. That same year, Kiyan Anthony’s game took a noticeable leap. He went from dropping around 10 points per game to nearly doubling that in AAU play, and even crossing 25 at the Top 100 camp. With his college plans also settling into place, the assumption was simple: a McDonald’s All-American spot was the next milestone on that map.

But then came the twist. Kiyan’s name wasn’t on the list. Not because of performance or lack of effort, but because of a rule. One that only allows players with at least 50 games under their belt as a senior to be eligible. A back injury in his senior year kept him off the court just enough to disqualify him. It was tough to take, and even tougher for Carmelo to hide his disappointment as he suspected “politics” in the whole thing.

“Anthony family once again gets jerked,” he said. “I think he [Kiyan] deserved to make it. No bias s**t. I think he really put the work in and really deserved to be a McDonald’s All-American.” And if you’ve followed Kiyan’s rise, it’s hard to argue with that. So why does Carmelo still sound so certain about the blueprint? That clarity showed up again during an interview featured by Sole Retriever on the very morning of the 2025 Jordan Brand Classic.

Hours before Kiyan would even step onto the court, Carmelo was already soaking in the moment with pride. “I just want to see him have fun and enjoy it,” he said. “This is a special moment… It’s all about just this moment and understanding like, this is a really, really good, positive moment.” And it really was. For Melo, this wasn’t just another showcase. It was a dream they had circled together. “This was definitely on the list four years ago… Playing in the Jordan Brand Classic,” he recalled.

You see, more than twenty years ago, a 17-year-old Carmelo Anthony dropped 27 points in the very first Jordan Brand Classic. This time, Kiyan matched the vibe, dropping 26 and walking away with MVP honors. And in doing so, the father-son duo etched their names into the history books as the first to both play in the iconic event. So no, the McDonald’s snub didn’t exactly break the blueprint—it just added another layer to a story that’s still unfolding, right on schedule.

What does Carmelo Anthony desire for Kiyan as a freshman at Syracuse?

There’s something special about watching the next generation take that first big leap—and for Carmelo Anthony, that moment has arrived. His son, Kiyan, is gearing up for his freshman year at Syracuse, the very school where Melo made his own mark two decades ago. The 18-year-old confirmed his decision to suit up for the Orange during an appearance on the 7PM in Brooklyn podcast in November last year. And fans have been buzzing ever since.

Now, as the countdown begins, Melo’s hopes for his son go far beyond wins and stats. Speaking to Sports Illustrated during his AT&T March Madness campaign, he shared a message that resonates with any parent watching their child chase a dream. “I just want him to go have fun. Go have fun, enjoy the college experience. I want him to enjoy being a college basketball player,” he said.  “That’s a different type of experience. Once you experience that, then you feel like, ‘O.K., O.K.. I’ve got that, now it’s time for me to move on.’ But you can’t move on until you actually experience that.” That experience, he added, is the foundation.

“I just want him to get on campus, have a good year, develop, get better on the court. … Now, it’s about basketball. It’s about developing, you don’t have no time for anything else.” Yep, Carmelo Anthony is not burdening Kiyan with expectations of leading Syracuse to an NCAA title in a single season like Melo himself did. He wants his son to soak in all the experience and stick to the college till the time the place can offer him something to learn. That seems to be the blueprint for the near future as of now.