Carmelo's son Kiyan Anthony had huge game in first college start for Syracuse Orange basketball

Senior Editor
Carmelo's son Kiyan Anthony had huge game in first college start for Syracuse Orange basketball image

It only took one game for Kiyan Anthony to break into the Syracuse Orange starting lineup.

With star guard J.J. Starling absent on Saturday against Delaware State, in stepped Carmelo's son. He had scored 15 points off the bench in his college debut, and now he got the sweet ovation that came with his introduction in the starting five in the JMA Wireless Dome.

Once the game tipped off, Kiyan was fantastic.

He finished with 19 points on 8-for-11 shooting from the floor. He also dished out four assists and grabbed three rebounds in 29 minutes.

“I just go out there and play with no worries," Kiyan told reporters after the game. "Even if I mess up, I know that it’s going to be ok — next play mentality.”

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Kiyan was a top-40 recruit, not exactly at the level of his father coming out of high school but not only a player coasting on the power of his last name, either.

And sure, Delaware State isn't a major opponent. But plenty of SU freshmen have been less efficient in their initial forays into college basketball against some of the Orange's weaker non-conference foes.

Kiyan had an opportunity, and he seized it.

“He’s a really good basketball player," Syracuse coach Adrian Autry told reporters. "He can pass, he can score, he can make plays."

Kiyan also has the right mindset. He went 1-for-4 at the line. He didn't plan on letting that happen again.

“I’m going to the gym right after this," Kiyan said Saturday while surrounded by a bunch of reporters in the locker room. "I’m shooting a hundred free throws. Super disappointed with myself for missing all those free throws. I make a lot of free throws in practice but game time (is) a little bit different."

He could get those shots up in the Carmelo K. Anthony Center, Syracuse's sparkling practice facility named for his pops, the building where Kiyan is putting in all the work he can to make his own name for himself.

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