At the start of this month, Kiyan Anthony, the son of NBA legend Carmelo Anthony, whittled down his list of colleges to three. While he will be taking his time to announce which program he will join, he is making moves off-court. He is ranked at 11 among high school basketball players in the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) value, and in just the last ten weeks, his NIL value surged by an impressive $396,000. 

This has pushed the Long Island Lutheran baller to the millionaire club as per the On3 NIL tracker. His NIL value now stands at $1.1 million, not bad for a 17-year-old. Kiyan’s first big break came when he signed with PSD Underwear on 21, September 2023, becoming the youngest player to ink a deal with the brand. The No.11 on On3’s HS Basketball NIL list calls it a “collaboration” that shows off his style and love for basketball. But there was more to come.

Just a week after signing with PSD Underwear, he inked a deal with Nerf and signed his third NIL deal with the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation on October 26. The M&M Sports Foundation was founded by Vanessa Bryant after the tragic death of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gigi in a helicopter crash.

The foundation posted photos on Instagram of Kiyan modeling the desert sand collection apparel for his new brand partners. Even before his NIL deals, Kiyan was already working on building his own brand, and in May 2023, he launched his own online clothing brand called One Way.

Speaking about his brand on an episode of his Overtime show Evolution, Kiyan said, “After the game, I linked up with my boy Jadyn to go over the brand One Way. It’s a clothing brand, but we’re really trying to promote a whole lifestyle, not just clothes. The end goal is to open up a whole store and everything like we are trying to take it to the next level.” He has indeed taken it to the next level as the brand launched new colorways for the clothing line in a photoshoot in New York. His father also expressed his pride when his son first started his venture.

Carmelo Anthony mentioned, “I’m proud of him that he took it upon himself to set a little business up for him and not wait for me or his mom to set it up. It’s like he’s doing it himself.” Kiyan’s NIL valuation could also helped by the fact he has 1.3 million followers on social media, comprising 915K on Instagram, 407K on TikTok, and 18.3K on X. Despite a growing NIL value and a place in the millionaires club, there is one more thing that Kiyan really wants.

A NIL deal with Jordan Brand- just like his dad.

“I want an NIL deal with Jordan cause my pops signed with Jordan. I feel like that will be fire,” he said back in August. Well, the basketball legend, who hung his jersey earlier this year, has had a history with Jordans. So, it’s natural for his son to want to follow in those footsteps.

With him set to make a decision on his college career in the near future, it is likely more NIL deals will follow and who knows Jordan might be one of them.

On the court, he has been living up to his family name with strong performances. He averages around 15-20 points per game with a 3-point shooting percentage hovering around 40%. On top of that, he pulls down about 5-6 rebounds per game and averages 3-4 assists per game. What his fans are now waiting for is his college choice. 

Most likely choice, Syracuse? Papa Anthony wouldn’t want Kiyan to live in his shadow unless

The high school basketball star has had offers from plenty of top schools, and over the past few months, he and his father have been making the rounds, visiting different campuses. The list is now down to three colleges. According to On3 Sports’ Joe Tipton, Kiyan is going to pick one of Auburn, USC, or Syracuse, where his father played in college.

During an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, the 10× NBA All-Star talked about his son’s college plans—or lack thereof. When Meyers asked if Kiyan had decided on where to play, he simply said, “He will make his own choice,” and repeated it four more times. 

It’s true that he made it clear, but it’s hard not to wonder if he’s quietly rooting for Syracuse. After all, the 6 ft 7 power forward led the Orange to an NCAA Championship in 2003. But his son knows he’s got to make his own decision. “Even though I know basically the whole world wants me to go to Syracuse, I still haven’t made the decision yet,” Kiyan told ESPN on September 18.

He added that he’s been talking to coaches and figuring out which program fits him best and who all athletes are joining. He also made it clear that his dad wasn’t pressuring him to join the college where he made a name for himself.

“He’s never going to say, ‘You got to go to Syracuse. You got to go there because I went there.’ He’s not going to make me follow in his footsteps unless I really want to,” he asserted. Whether Kiyan chooses Syracuse or another school altogether, his decision will make a difference. College basketball is a huge stepping stone for players who want to make it to the NBA. Melo’s son has been proving that he’s got the talent, but choosing the right college could be the key.