SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Kiyan Anthony has his swagger back. The Syracuse guard never doubted he belonged at this level of basketball. He just felt like his confidence was stripped of him during his freshman season.
Anthony, the son of Syracuse legend Carmelo Anthony, had an inconsistent first season at his father’s alma mater a year ago. He jumped out to an auspicious start to his college basketball career but his play tapered off as the season dragged on.
With a renewed focus in the offseason Anthony bulked
up by adding 13 pounds of muscle ahead of the 2026-27 season. With a coaching reset at Syracuse under newly-appointed head man Gerry McNamara, the 6-foot-5 guard is talking like a player who has his self-assurance back.
“It was never a question to me if I was one of the top players or not. I always knew that and always had the confidence to do so,” Anthony said. “I think it was more of the situation I was put in last year. Just a lack of confidence on the court. I feel like it was taken from me last year.”
Anthony was used off the bench last season under a different Syracuse coaching regime. He was predominantly put in situations with the ball in his hands – a role he’s comfortable with – although in an outdated offense that lacked the sophistication one would come to expect in modern basketball.
Anthony finished his freshman season with 8.0 points, 0.9 assists and 1.4 rebounds in 18.7 minutes per game. He sat out the final two games of the season with knee tendonitis.
In the time since Anthony has spent the summer in his hometown of New York City doing skill development with his dad as well as NBA skills trainer Chris Brickley. He would workout two or three times per day over the summer.
“Seven, he’s developed his game a lot,” Syracuse center Luke Wilson said. “He put on some weight. He’s going to (have) a big impact for us. You see him getting to his spots and knocking down shots.”
Anthony is a highly skilled scorer who has a knack for getting into the lane, seeking contact and creating space to get his shot off or draw fouls – or both. He’s crafty and plays with good pace on the offensive end. Part of his development this offseason? Moving without the ball, improving in catch-and-shoot scenarios and stepping up on the defensive side.
Anthony, he says, will do whatever he has to do for Syracuse to be successful. He’s in a new offensive system under McNamara and much more willing to run the offense than hunt individual shots.
“If some plays I gotta sit in the corner and wait for it I’ll do that,” Anthony said. “It’s a lot of plays where I go get it and have to put the ball on the floor – or come off actions where I don’t have the ball – and screens getting set for me off-ball to come get it. I feel like I didn’t have a lot of that last year. Last year I was really getting it and just trying to go (one on one).
“So this year I’m off the ball, a lot of catch-and-shoots, a lot of wide open 3s, a lot of out in transition off the rebound, just looking for me in transition.”
Freshman trials
Anthony admitted that there were times during his freshman season where he’d just go home by himself after practice. The 2025-26 Syracuse season was all but over in January, leading to a long winter slog in Central New York. The stakes were high last season for third-year coach Adrian Autry, who was given a “meaningful games in March” mandate by Syracuse’s former athletic director. After failing to make the NCAA Tournament in three seasons Autry was let go following last season’s 15-17 campaign.
“I think the whole vibe was off last year,” Anthony said, “players walking in with just a slouch, not ready to practice, no urgency to get stuff done. I feel like that passed on throughout the team. This year we run into practice. We come in ready to go. Everybody’s talking, smiling and laughing. Business is business at the end of the day. G-Mac knows what he’s doing, man. I feel really confident going into the season.”
The previous coaching regime at Syracuse was not set up for success. Syracuse was late to evolve in the NIL space and Autry was given the impossible task of replacing a legend at a program on the decline. It was a difficult turnaround situation that Autry worked diligently to modernize with mixed results.
There was a 20-win season in his first year and a handful of wins over ranked teams. But communication issues both internal and external, an obsolete offense and an inability to hold players accountable came home to roost. Those close to the program acknowledged that the former staff would sometimes hesitate to hold Anthony to a standard.
McNamara, a different type of leader who has a close relationship with both Anthonys, won’t be so challenged.
“When we’re with the team and he has to yell at me he goes in. I don’t take that (any) personal way. … G-Mac implements a culture,” Anthony said. “How can you not win? He’s super stern, super direct, authentic. If you don’t do what he wants you to do you’re not going to be out there.”
This season, Anthony said, teammates have dinners and watch games together. Anthony likes to play video games in his off campus apartment to wind down from the intensity of basketball. He has developed a close relationship with teammate Sadiq White. Syracuse’s two top-50 recruits who came into the program as freshmen together, Anthony and White are the only two players who returned to the Orange program under McNamara.
McNamara has known Anthony for his entire life. The Syracuse head coach held him as a child. Anthony says McNamara and his father – the two standout freshmen who helped deliver Syracuse’s 2003 National Championship – share a “brotherhood” together, making McNamara feel somewhat like an uncle but more so a mentor who can teach and guide. Anthony has bought in to McNamara’s culture and system.
“G-Mac runs a pro system I feel like,” Anthony said.
McNamara has helped to reinject confidence into Anthony. Rather than limit his role or his shooting, McNamara is looking to empower Anthony and has encouraged his shooting volume.
“No coach has ever told me, ‘I want you to shoot more threes.’ For him to tell me that,” Anthony said, “it shows me that he cares for me and trusts me with the ball.”
An uncertain college career
After Syracuse decided to go in a new head coaching direction Anthony acknowledged his college basketball future was up in the air. He thought about leaving Syracuse and entering the transfer portal.
After leading the Siena Saints to the NCAA Tournament in his second season, Syracuse turned to McNamara to be the program’s ninth head coach on March 24, 2026.
“I feel like if G-Mac didn’t get the job I probably would’ve transferred,” Anthony said.
While Anthony was waiting to learn who Syracuse’s next coach would be, he leaned on his network before making any decisions. Anthony was advised by his agent, Syracuse alum Drew Gross of WME Basketball, and his dad to just be patient and wait to see what happened at Syracuse before making a decision or entering the transfer portal. Despite being eager to figure out next steps, Anthony stood pat.
“I kind of waited to see if G-Mac would get the job,” Anthony said.
After McNamara was hired he soon made contact with Anthony. It didn’t take long to reach a decision.
“He called me the day he got the job,” Anthony said of McNamara. “We sat on the phone for like two hours. The next day I flew back to Syracuse, met in his office. At that point it was a no-brainer for me.”
That conversation was enough for Anthony to return for year two.
Part of that “very serious and very direct” talk was the development piece. He needed to add weight to his frame. Anthony’s skill with the ball in his hands and ability to score was evident. But how could he become more efficient and become a better shooter?
“Kiy,” McNamara began, “you watch him play what he can do with the basketball in terms of isolation and attacking people. Our conversation became about the effective field goal percentage and shooting more volume threes, becoming a great shooter because you already do these things so well. How do we evolve your game?”
Through three games this season Anthony’s effective field goal percentage is 56.5 percent, up from 44.6 percent a season ago. He’s shooting 35.7 percent from three, up from 25.4 percent a season ago.
Hey, P! They said I got to come off the bench!
Anthony started two games a season ago as a freshman filling in for senior JJ Starling in the early season but wouldn’t earn a start the rest of the way. This year Syracuse is a guard-heavy team with Garwey Dual, Gavin Doty, Mark Morano, the currently sidelined Aiden Tobiason (hamstring), Ryan Moesch and Anthony.
Anthony feels like he’s earned the role of starter, but is willing to do what the team needs even if that means coming off the bench. He’s come off the bench in Syracuse’s first three games as sixth-man.
“If I’m starting, I’m starting. If I’m coming off the bench, I’m coming off the bench. But the work is the work,” Anthony said. “I came back for a winning team and winning culture but also for me individually to take that next step and be one of those guys in college basketball. That was another conversation me and G-Mac had.”
While coming off the bench Anthony is Syracuse’s leading scorer thus far averaging 15.7 points per game. He’s been much more efficient 15-31 (48.4 percent) from the floor to start the season.
“He’s worked hard to become a better player,” McNamara said of Anthony. “He’s worked hard to change his body and become a better defender. He’s playing complete team ball. He’s bought in — not that he always wasn’t. I think he really has turned the corner in terms of like, he’s all-in on winning. I think that takes a little bit of pressure off.“
Irrespective of his place in the rotation Anthony views himself as a leader on this team given he’s just one of two players with multiple years of experience in the Orange program.
“I mean I don’t think it should be a question but I feel like I’m one of the leaders on the team,” Anthony said. “I feel like a lot of players (are) looking to me for questions and answers. I’m leading the team the best way I can as far as showing them the ropes of the ACC and Syracuse basketball. G-Mac is helping me become a better leader because last year I didn’t really have that type of role.”
One and not done
Anthony’s basketball journey was never about trying to live up to his father’s legacy. He chose Syracuse out of high school based on fit and proximity, not just because his dad went to SU. He talked as a freshman about the possibility of staying in college multiple years rather than racing toward the NBA.
Anthony reiterated those comments heading into his sophomore year and turned to his father’s guidance on how to navigate his journey as the son of an NBA legend and Hall of Famer.
“My dad never really thought one-and-done. He knows it’s a journey. It’s 2026, obviously everybody wants to be one-and-done and get to the league as fast as they can,” Anthony said. “At the end of the day, you have five years in college now. It’s a journey. You have to take the steps in the right direction. And I’m just focused on day-by-day, taking those steps in the right direction. My dad has done a great job leading me away from all of (the noise).”
Last year Anthony was stressed and overthinking the game. Basketball stopped being fun. The offseason work was serious but he wants to enjoy playing basketball again. At the same time he wants to show others he’s the real deal. He’s reinvigorated with confidence and believes in his head coach. And his head coach has restored faith in him. But it’s more than just belief.
“It’s not that it’s, ‘Hey I believe in you. You believe in me. We believe in each other. Let’s work for the future,’” McNamara said. “The fact that you keep (a kid) who really loves Syracuse. That means something. That means something to me.”
That means something to Anthony as well. He’s put in the work and hasn’t backed down from the challenge of following his father’s legacy or playing at his place where Carmelo became an icon in the sport. With a renewed sense of confidence, Kiyan is eager to prove what he can do.
“I just wanted to show everybody that I’m one of them,” Anthony said. “Throughout high school I was competing with those top guys and coming on top of a lot of those matchups. Coming into college, I feel like my confidence was taken away from me last year. I think G-Mac is really reinstalling that battery into my bag.”
