Melo's son: Cuse is finalist, however dad would not push

Kiyan Anthony is aware of higher than most about his father’s legacy at Syracuse, which is among the finalists for the No. 36 prospect and four-star recruit within the 2025 ESPN 100 rankings.

Earlier than a adorned NBA profession, Carmelo Anthony led the Orange to the 2003 nationwide championship as a freshman. He additionally donated a big sum of cash to the college’s basketball facility, which now bears his title.

Regardless of these household ties, Kiyan Anthony mentioned that his father and mom, La La Anthony, haven’t nudged him to choose Syracuse.

“[My father] by no means pushes me to go to Syracuse simply because his title is on the gymnasium,” Anthony informed ESPN on Wednesday forward of the discharge of the second season of “The Evolu7ion” on YouTube with Overtime. “He did a lot at Syracuse. He is aware of that I am my very own particular person. I’ve simply received to make my very own choice on the finish of the day.

“Whether it is Syracuse — I am going there rather a lot and I apply, I work on the market — whether it is that, that is what it’s. However he is by no means going to say, ‘You bought to go to Syracuse. You bought to go there as a result of I went there.’ He isn’t going to make me observe in his footsteps except I actually need to.”

Anthony mentioned he’ll select from his checklist of finalists — Syracuse, Auburn, USC, Florida State, Ohio State and Rutgers — within the subsequent two months and he expects to take one other go to to Syracuse earlier than his last choice.

At Lengthy Island Lutheran Excessive College in Brookville, New York, Anthony’s profession has been scrutinized due to household. His father is a probable Naismith Memorial Basketball Corridor of Fame inductee and his mom is an actress and superstar with 15 million Instagram followers.

On his YouTube present, Anthony hopes to indicate what it is prefer to face the eye he is had since he was a toddler. However he additionally loves that his buddies and teammates get an opportunity to share the highlight with him.

“My buddies possibly not having the identical alternatives as I’ve, I am the one which’s tried to deliver them together with me,” Anthony mentioned. “I do not need to make them really feel ignored.”

Anthony, a 6-foot-5 guard, additionally mentioned he desires to show that he is greater than a scorer. A few of his offensive exploits, together with a 15-point effort at Rucker Park in April, have gone viral, however he mentioned he is engaged on showcasing his playmaking talents in his last highschool season.

And whereas his connection along with his father attracts a lot of the headlines, he mentioned his mom has additionally performed a pivotal function in his growth.

“I might say all people sees when the cameras are on [my dad] after which they’re on me as a result of I am enjoying good, however I might say my mother does much more background stuff. Like, after I’m going by means of one thing or I would like someone to speak to, my mother is certainly the particular person,” Anthony mentioned. “And he or she’s the one who actually pushes me to get within the gymnasium, even when I do not need to. To go to highschool and keep on prime of my grades and stuff like that.”

From the second he picked up a basketball, Anthony was tied to the college the place his father made basketball historical past as a one-and-done star who led the Orange to a nationwide title over Kansas. And whereas he is at all times thought of the potential of changing into the subsequent member of the Anthony household to don a Syracuse jersey, these near him won’t strain him.

He mentioned his subsequent go to to Syracuse and his different finalists, nonetheless, will affect his choice. His mother and father will play a task as the method unfolds, he mentioned, however they will not determine his future.

“Though I do know mainly the entire world desires me to go to Syracuse, I nonetheless have not made the choice but and I nonetheless have to speak to the coaches some extra and actually get into element — like what different gamers are coming, how they need me to play, how I will be coached and stuff like that,” Anthony mentioned. “So I nonetheless have to complete up my visits, after which, in the end, simply decide. I’ll depend on my mother and father rather a lot with their recommendation and the way they assume a faculty suits me.”