Syracuse Basketball Recruiting: Kiyan Anthony Continues to Show Interest

Kiyan Anthony spent his summer establishing himself as the state of New York’s top player and one of the 2025 class’s top recruits. As Kiyan’s recruiting heats up, one school will garner most of the fanfare. On3’s Joe Tipton speculated Monday morning Anthony could be poised to follow his father, Carmelo Anthony’s footsteps and end up in orange.

Playing with Team Melo on the Nike EYBL circuit this summer, Anthony averaged 20.2 points, 3.4 boards and 1.7 assists per game on a below-average 49.6% true shooting percentage according to Synergy. He’s not perfectly consistent yet but Anthony flashes high-level scoring talent from all areas of the floor. At around 6’5, Anthony profiles like a possible pro-level two guard.

Anthony struggled to score efficiently on the circuit this summer. Many young, talented players can’t create efficient offense when asked to run a team’s offense. Team Melo would ask Anthony to maintain a heavy offensive responsibility, often facing double teams and aggressive coverages.

Breaking Down Kiyan Anthony’s Skills

He’s already a crafty space creator, carving small angles and drawing fouls (0.40 free throw rate). Anthony creates off-dribble jumpers at strong volume, placing in the 64th percentile efficiency on those shots according to Synergy. Anthony weaves in and out of defenses with advanced patience and pace, winning with crafty footwork and timing to get his jumpers off.

While Anthony’s three-point efficiency (28.8% 0.36 three-point attempt rate) wasn’t up to par, his long-term shooting projection looks rosier. Efficiency numbers across the board are low for most high schoolers. Anthony’s shot diet was that of a high-usage primary — lots of pull-ups and difficult shots off the catch with very few easy, manufactured looks.

That in itself will sink percentages. Anthony shot 58.5% of his triples off of the dribble as defenses keyed in on him each game. He’s shot with greater efficiency in lower usage roles in the past; this past season at Long Island Lutheran, Anthony shot 34.1% from deep (31/91. 0.50 three-point attempt rate) in a complementary role next to VJ Edgecombe, Kayden Mingo and others. Anthony’s consistently mid-70s free-throw percentages also represent some hope for shooting development.

What Does Kiyan Anthony’s Future Role Look Like?

Based on his recent EYBL performance, it’s unlikely Kiyan Anthony will function as a primary offensive option at the next level. Most players are not. Anthony lacks the first-step burst, strength and general physical tools to create advantages at a high level, unless he develops into an elite difficult shotmaker or playmaker.

Improving at the basket would aid Anthony’s ability to score and create on-ball. He’s not a prolific downhill threat, attempting just 32.3% of his shots at the hoop on average (53.8%) efficiency. Added strength will allow Anthony to better absorb contact, but his inconsistent handle and lack of vertical explosion in traffic could limit the ceiling on his interior scoring efficacy long term.

Anthony’s experience playing as a primary will absolutely aid his development as a more off-ball-focused scorer, though. When Anthony attracts less defensive attention on more talented teams, he should have an easier time capitalizing on tilted defenses.

Though it wasn’t always consistent, Anthony flashed the ability to pass off of his own scoring gravity and maintained solid efficiency (1.0 assist-to-turnover ratio) despite heavy defensive attention. When defenses pressure the ball, Anthony has the vision requisite to punish rotations and find shooters on kickouts and finishers on laydowns. Some of his pick-and-roll ability, especially as a pocket passer, should shine as a complementary playmaker off of second-side actions at the next levels.

Kiyan Anthony’s Defensive Outlook

Anthony must continue to add muscle and explosion to compete on the defensive end as most young players do. He’s not much of a defensive playmaker, generating just one stock (steal+block) per game this AAU season. Without great length or explosive twitch, it can be difficult to generate turnovers, especially with so much energy expenditure on the offensive end.

He will compete on that end, though, especially on the ball. Anthony slides and mirrors with solid lateral quickness, cutting off drivers and denying advantages. At the next levels, Anthony profiles as primarily a guard defender, taking advantage of his lateral quickness and agility to deter drives and shots from quicker players.

As Syracuse continues to retool in the post-Jim Boeheim era, adding more top talents like Anthony will be critical. It’s difficult to project a college roster two years in advance given the current volatility of the sport. The Orange picked up a five-star in Donnie Freeman and a four-star in Elijah Moore for the 2024 class and have already secured a commitment from 205 four-star Sadiq White.

Kiyan Anthony’s developmental strides this summer, especially on the playmaking and creation front, are notable. He’s set himself up well to function as a complementary offensive threat at the college level assuming he continues to progress and develop over the coming years. If Anthony commits to Syracuse, they’ll add another foundational piece for developing the program that could turn him into a legitimate NBA prospect in the coming seasons.