Kiyan Anthony’s profile has been rising fast, and his freshman year at Syracuse is already proving to be a strong launchpad. He entered the program with heavy expectations but has handled the spotlight well so far.
His momentum off the court is growing just as quickly. Kiyan signed a major NIL deal with Jordan brand as part of its new class of young athletes. The group is headlined by some of the biggest rising names in basketball.
Alongside Kiyan are Sarah Strong, one of the top women’s prospects in the country, and the Boozer twins, Cayden and Cameron, who have long been considered elite talents in their class. The four form a standout group that represents the brand’s push to spotlight the next generation of stars.
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For Kiyan, the partnership carries added meaning because of the legacy his father built with the same company. La La Anthony reacted with excitement and pride as her son added another milestone to his growing list of accomplishments.
“INCREDIBLE,” she commented on the Jordan Brand post.
She has been visible at games and active in showing support as Kiyan takes his first steps into major college basketball and national brand attention. Both she and Carmelo have tried to balance encouragement with giving Kiyan space to grow into his own name.
Melo has been vocal about not burdening Kiyan with the weight of his last name. The Hall of Famer is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, and that pressure can be too much for someone who is trying to find their place in the sport.
Carmelo Anthony on Passing the Baton
Melo has always believed in letting Kiyan create his own path, while still guiding him when needed. The NBA legend has been through all the struggles that the youngster will face now, so he potentially has an answer for every problem.
However, he also wants Kiyan to make his own mistakes and learn from them. For Melo, this is like a transition phase. He sees it as handing over the stage to the next generation and watching his son step forward with confidence.
“You talk about legacy, and you talk about family dynamics, you talk about passing things on down to your family, to your kids. And this is something that we passing, and we passing the baton to him,” Carmelo told THE DAILY ORANGE. “And now whatever he do with it, he do with it, and that’s on him.”
He understands the challenges that come with visibility and expectations. Signing with the Jordan brand while trying to make a name for himself at Syracuse is a major step in the right direction for the 18-year-old.
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