Kiyan Anthony was never going to have an easy path at the college level - not when your last name is Anthony and your dad is a Syracuse legend with a national title to his name. Choosing to follow in Carmelo’s footsteps and suit up for the Orange brought with it a heavy dose of expectations. And so far, the freshman season has been a learning curve - for both Kiyan and Syracuse.
Let’s start with the numbers, because they paint a pretty clear picture. According to advanced metrics, Kiyan currently ranks as Syracuse’s least effective player on both ends of the floor.
That’s not just a small dip in impact - it’s a noticeable gap. Offensive and defensive net ratings show him as a net negative, despite logging close to 20 minutes per game.
For a program trying to find its footing in a transition period, that’s a tough spot for any freshman to be in.
Kiyan’s raw stats reflect the growing pains. He’s averaging 8.9 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.0 assist per game, while shooting 41.6% from the field.
His three-point shooting has been a major struggle, sitting at just 23.3%, and he’s converting only 61.2% from the free-throw line. For a guard expected to be a scoring option, those efficiency numbers are clearly a work in progress.
But numbers only tell part of the story. Watching Kiyan play, you can see flashes - a quick first step, a smooth handle, the ability to create space.
There are moments when he gets to his spots and looks the part of a confident shot-maker. The problem is finishing the play.
Too often, those promising moves end in a missed jumper or a forced shot in traffic. And to be fair, he’s operating in a Syracuse offense that hasn’t exactly made life easy for its perimeter players.
The Orange have struggled to generate consistent, high-quality looks, which puts even more pressure on young players like Kiyan to create something out of nothing.
It’s also worth noting that Kiyan came in with a very different profile than his father. Carmelo was a top-tier recruit and a physical mismatch at the college level.
Kiyan, listed at 6-foot-5, didn’t carry the same recruiting hype and is still adjusting to the speed, strength, and complexity of the college game. That’s not a knock - that’s the reality for most freshmen, especially ones trying to carve out a role on a team that’s still figuring out its identity.
One thing is clear: this isn’t a one-and-done situation. Kiyan is going to need time, reps, and a system that helps him develop his strengths while ironing out the inefficiencies.
There’s potential here - the kind that doesn’t always show up in the box score right away. And for Syracuse fans, there’s something undeniably special about seeing “Anthony” on the back of a jersey again.
It’s a reminder of past glory, sure, but it’s also a chance to watch a new chapter unfold.
The spotlight was always going to be bright. Now it’s about how Kiyan Anthony responds - not to the comparisons, but to the challenge in front of him.
The tools are there. It’s about putting them together, one game at a time.