Kiyan Anthony is heading into his second season at Syracuse with a small but noticeable change that caught attention during practice: the headband is back.
A new video from Orange practice showed Anthony wearing one, a look that immediately brings his father, Carmelo Anthony, to mind. Carmelo wore the headband as part of his signature style for a long stretch, and now his son may be borrowing a piece of that familiar image as he gets ready for another year in Orange.
For his freshman season, Kiyan went without it and instead wore his hair a bit longer. Whether this is just a summer look or something he plans to keep using once the games start, it’s at least a subtle nod to the family connection that already hangs over his time at Syracuse.
The bigger question, though, is what kind of leap Anthony can make on the court. As a freshman, he averaged 8.0 points per game, but the efficiency numbers told the tougher part of the story: 39.9% shooting from the floor, 25.4% from 3-point range and 62.8% at the foul line.
He did show he could get to his own offense. The issue was finishing those chances with enough consistency.
That development will matter for Syracuse, especially with Gerry McNamara now in charge. McNamara, the new head coach, was teammates as a freshman with Carmelo on the national championship team, which makes this whole setup feel like a full-circle moment.
Now he gets the chance to coach Carmelo’s son. And if Kiyan’s game takes the next step, Syracuse would gladly take the headband along with it.
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UNC Turmoil Just Raised The Stakes For Syracuse In Chapel Hill
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For Syracuse, the timing adds another layer to a road trip that was already going to draw attention. The Orange are set to visit Chapel Hill on Oct. 24, and any disruption around UNCs football operation only increases the uncertainty around what kind of team Syracuse will see by then. How much Lombardis absence alters the Tar Heels day-to-day rhythm is still unclear, but it is the sort of development that can ripple into a matchup like this. [Read more 🡒]