Kiyan Anthony is quickly stepping into the spotlight, and yeah, a lot of that has to do with him being Carmelo Anthony’s son. But we can’t deny that his hard work and talent are shining through, too. Along the way, he has faced some tough opponents on the court. Although he stood tall in front of many, a few have given him a hard time. Opening about the same, the 17-year-old seemed to overlook one big name. 

When asked who challenged him the most in a podcast, the Long Island Lutheran guard mentioned the likes of Rutgers star Dylan Harper, Tre Johnson, and Boogie Fland. “They’re all from New York, just trying to win that matchup,” he said, acknowledging how he was a bit younger at the time. 

Although Harper is a tough competition, with his peak performance averaging 22.4 per game, what about Cooper Flagg? The one who led his Montverde Academy to a solid win over Kiyan’s Long Island Lutheran team. Cooper had a standout performance in their recent matchup, scoring 21 points and grabbing 14 rebounds.

Meanwhile, Melo’s son managed 19 points and was struggling to guard Cooper throughout the game. This wasn’t the first time Kiyan’s team had faced off against Montverde. They lost to the Eagles before, and Cooper’s performance in that game certainly didn’t help Kiyan’s case. 

It’s a learning experience, for sure, especially when you’re up against a powerhouse like Montverde, who, by the way, just captured their sixth City of Palms Classic title with this latest win. Anyways, both are now lacing up their sneakers to head to the colleges.

While Cooper has already committed to Duke, the ball is still in Kiyan’s court, and things are still up in the air for him. With his potential, he does have options but he hasn’t decided as of now. And he even talked about it on the same podcast ‘Unapologetically Angel’ with WNBA star Angel Reese. 

Kiyan Anthony has yet to decide on a college

Speaking of college choices, Kiyan is still weighing his options. He’s narrowed it down to three schools: USC, Auburn, and Syracuse. He’s taken a few visits, too, but it’s no secret that he’s taking his time.

Opening up about what factors are influencing his decision, he said, “Just like what coaches been on me the latest and where I could go in right away.” It sounds like he’s looking for a place where he can grow and develop his game while also winning—no pressure.

Auburn has been making some noise lately, especially with Charles Barkley praising head coach Bruce Pearl for honing players. The 17-year-old could be a great fit for them as they need offensive power. At the same time, a connection with Syracuse runs in his blood.

It’s the same college where his dad played. Then there’s USC, where Kiyan feels they really know how to get players drafted into the NBA. He mentioned, “They also produce players of my archetype and get them to the league.” 

So, we’re all waiting to see where the hooper ends up. Will he stay true to his father’s roots at Syracuse, chase the winning culture at Auburn, or take a shot with the Trojans?