“Even though I know basically the whole world wants me to go to Syracuse, I still haven’t made the decision yet.” Despite the widespread buzz about Kiyan Anthony potentially following in his father Carmelo Anthony’s footsteps, Kiyan has been clear that nothing is set in stone. Now, with his final year of high school approaching, his recent training sessions and interactions alongside his idol, Paul George, are only adding more mystery to where he’ll land next.

The Overtime recently dropped a new episode that gave fans an inside look at Kiyan Anthony’s day, including a special visit to a training session where his idol, Paul George, was already hard at work. The video captured Kiyan’s entire training routine, with the highlight being his time alongside George. But what sparked curiosity was the appearance of another high school standout practicing on the same court, fueling the speculation about what’s next for Kiyan.

Kiyan Anthony, currently ranked No. 36 in the 2025 ESPN 100, recently had the chance to share a drill session with none other than AJ Dybantsa, the top recruit in the class of 2025. Reflecting on the experience, Kiyan couldn’t help but express his appreciation for two basketball stars. “We just got him I guess a little extra working, especially with PG (George) and AJ (Dybantsa) which is also my man talking something crazy right now also you know the number one player in the country as of now,” stated Kiyan.

While much of the buzz has linked Kiyan Anthony to Syracuse, the Long Island Lutheran star has reported having two other options on his bucket list: Auburn and USC. What’s interesting is the overlap between Kiyan’s list and that of AJ Dybantsa’s, who has named Alabama, Auburn, Baylor, BYU, Kansas, Kansas State, and North Carolina as his potential destinations.

With Auburn being the common thread, their recent training session together under Paul George might not guarantee anything, but it certainly hints at the possibility of the two teaming up in college just like they did on the court that day. Kiyan has made it clear that there’s no pressure from his father, Carmelo Anthony, to follow in his footsteps and join Syracuse, meaning the decision will be entirely his. As he prepares for upcoming visits to both Syracuse and Auburn, we might get a clearer picture of where he’s leaning soon.

Nevertheless, his father has expressed her opinion on his recent training sessions with Paul George, as Kiyan himself reveals the reason why he is his idol.

Kiyan Anthony’s admiration for Paul George could shape his future

This summer, second-generation baller Kiyan Anthony, stirred up some buzz by calling Paul George the Greatest of All Time. The comment caught many in the NBA world off guard, considering the Philadelphia 76ers star has yet to win an NBA championship or MVP. But as Kiyan sets his sights on the 2026 NBA Draft, where he hopes to hear his name called, Carmelo has brought in Kiyan’s chosen GOAT to help guide him along the way.

In a recent training video, Paul George mentioned that his goal wasn’t to teach Kiyan Anthony anything new, but to help fine-tune the moves Kiyan already has in his arsenal. Carmelo Anthony also chimed in, expressing his excitement about his son’s opportunity to train with George. “Man, we made it happen, big shout out to PG, he they favorite player, so let’s get them in the gym and really show them how to really work at that level,” stated Carmelo Anthony. 

The training session came after Kiyan Anthony’s appearance with Paul George on Carmelo Anthony’s “7 PM In Brooklyn” podcast. During the episode, Kiyan shared why he believes George should be in the GOAT conversation and emphasized it’s George’s unique smoothness and style, which he feels sets him apart from the rest.

“The smoothness that he plays with. I’m not the only person that be saying like that’s my favorite player like Brandon Miller got a lot of heat for it when he first came in the league so just like the way he play like it don’t matter about the win. I like seeing him get a bucket. I feel like it’s different than the way everybody else get a bucket,” explained Kiyan. Now, as Kiyan inches closer to making his college decision, it’ll be interesting to see if his admiration for George and pairing up with AJ Dybantsa might influence where he ends up next. How do you think the future will pan out for the young star? Let us know in the comments below.