Carmelo Anthony is living his proudest dad moments right now, and for a good reason. His son, Kiyan Anthony, has been lighting up courts all summer with stellar performances at Peach Jam, SLAM Summer Classic, and the Top 100 Camp. The buzz around Kiyan reached new heights when he confirmed he’d be following in his dad’s footsteps to Syracuse. But until then, the young guard has some time on his hands—and he’s determined to use it to handle some unfinished business.

After an injury sidelined him early in the season opener, Kiyan has returned stronger, suiting up for the Long Island Lutheran Crusaders. During a practice session, he caught up with PIX11 News and shared some insight about his goals for his senior year.

When asked, “So obviously, the Orange very excited to have you but what are your goals and missions here at Luhigh in your senior year before you go?” Kiyan replied: “I’m trying to win, win any game.”

But Kiyan’s vision doesn’t stop at winning “any game.” He emphasized, “We could win Nationals, win the tournament, win anything.” Reflecting on past challenges, he added, “So coming off past games, not having the results we ultimately wanted, being a big team in Columbus. Now just that’s momentum to keep winning  and going to Nationals, going to the in-season tournament. Just try to win everything.”

Speaking of momentum, the Crusaders are on a 6-game winning streak with a 9-5 overall. But Kiyan only made his return to the court during the La Porte Invitational. Coming off the bench, he dropped 11 points on 3-of-8 shooting, including a three-pointer, and contributed two assists and a rebound. Not bad for someone shaking off an injury.

The La Porte Invitational wasn’t just about Kiyan’s return; the game itself was a nail-biter, featuring 15 lead changes before Long Island Lutheran pulled off a thrilling 61-53 win over Veritas Academy. With Kiyan back in action, the Crusaders suddenly look like serious championship contenders.

But while Kiyan chose Syracuse, it wasn’t just because of his legendary dad. The young guard has his own reasons.

Why Kiyan chose Syracuse?

“I’m sure everyone assumed Melo put the pressure on him. We just gave input and stepped back,” Kiyan’s mother, La La, shared after his big announcement. She further emphasized, “There was zero pressure from his dad to go to Syracuse.” So, what made Kiyan choose the Orange jersey?

Initially, Kiyan had plenty of options to consider. As a four-star recruit, he received offers from 20 top programs, including Auburn, Ohio State, Florida State, Rutgers, USC, and, of course, Syracuse. By early this month, his decision came down to two finalists: Syracuse and USC. Ultimately, the 17-year-old chose Syracuse, signaling his commitment to a place that aligns with his vision.

During the announcement on the 7PM in Brooklyn podcast, Kiyan broke it down.

“Just looking at Syracuse and seeing like, what could be done over there and if I was to go over there and they already have top people coming in, who I’m close with, young coaching staff that I could connect to, close to home, 45-minute flight. They [USC] would have me catching 6-hour flights to California every day. So just all of that like ACC, and they play Duke, Carolina, all the good schools, so all of that played a part,” he explained.

Sure, Carmelo Anthony’s legendary 2003 NCAA Championship win adds weight to Syracuse’s name, but for Kiyan, it’s about carving his own path. Syracuse isn’t just about living up to a legacy—it’s a stage for Kiyan to create his own story and build his dreams.