Carmelo Anthony’s Son Kiyan Anthony Drops 40 Points in Viral Game—Future NBA Star in the Making?

Fans at the JMA Wireless Dome are quickly learning why Kiyan Anthony is more than “Carmelo Anthony’s son.” The 18-year-old shooting guard delivered 15 points, three rebounds and three assists off the bench on opening night, then stepped seamlessly into the starting lineup when veteran scorer J.J. Starling went down with a leg injury, earning his first collegiate start against Delaware State this past weekend. At 6-foot-5 with a silky pull-up jumper, Anthony was ranked No. 7 among shooting guards in the 2025 recruiting class and is already flashing lottery-level upside. NBA scouts eyeing the 2026 draft class love his shot-making versatility, improved court vision and a wingspan measured at 6-6 that lets him defend both guard spots. Add in a mature feel for the game—honed while training with Carmelo and NBA vets since middle school—and it’s easy to see why mock drafts have begun sliding him into the late first round. Off the court, Anthony’s brand is exploding just as fast. Nike announced in November that the freshman signed a landmark NIL partnership with Jordan Brand, joining Cameron and Cayden Boozer plus UConn star Sarah Strong in a second-generation athletes class. The deal not only links Kiyan to the iconic Jumpman lineage that once featured his father but also positions him as one of college basketball’s most marketable players heading into March Madness. Anthony says carrying the Jordan banner is “about more than basketball,” pledging to leverage his platform for community outreach in Syracuse and his native New York City. That mindset resonates with Gen-Z consumers and corporate partners hungry for authentic voices, making the Orange freshman a dual threat on the floor and in the influencer economy. For Syracuse, Kiyan’s emergence could be a program-altering catalyst. A dynamic perimeter scorer alongside veteran Judah Mintz, he gives head coach Adrian Autry the kind of three-level weapon the Orange have lacked since—well—Carmelo’s 2003 title run. If his current 14.8-points-per-game pace holds once conference play begins, Anthony will crash the ACC Rookie of the Year race and supercharge Syracuse’s NCAA tournament bid. Keyword roundup: “Kiyan Anthony highlights,” “Syracuse basketball freshman phenom,” “Jordan Brand NIL,” “2026 NBA Draft prospect,” and “Carmelo Anthony legacy.” Expect search traffic to spike every time the name “Anthony” lights up the Dome scoreboard—and right now, that’s happening nightly.