SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Kiyan Anthony made the first start of his college basketball career against Delaware State on Saturday. With JJ Starling sidelined with a right leg injury, Anthony started in his place on the way to a 19-point performance. The Syracuse freshman shot 8-11 from the floor to go with 4 assists and 3 rebounds in 29 minutes of action.
Anthony credits the belief the coaches have in him and the support of his teammates as to what allows him to go out on the court and play freely. There’s a confidence about his play that comes without the fear of missing shots or taking shots away from veteran players. He also understands that mistakes are part of the process.
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“Just the confidence that the coaches instill in me,” Anthony said of his play. “I just go out there and play with no worries. Even if I mess up, I know that it’s going to be ok — next play mentality.”
While he figures to just be leasing the starting position until JJ Starling returns, Anthony has come out strong to start his college career. Starling missed the Delaware State game with a right leg injury. The injury won’t keep Starling out long-term.
“He’s not ready yet but we expect him back pretty soon,” Autry said of Starling.
Anthony’s day in the scoring column began in transition where he measured up his opponent and finished with an easy layup. On his next scoring possession, Anthony dribbled to his right off a ball screen before changing direction to his left. He swept the ball low by the help defender and finished at the rim. After, he had a nice spin through traffic and finished with his right hand over the defense. He would connected on a pair of threes and convert a pair of euro-step moves, one with a deft finish using his left-hand and another with an and-one. There’s been countless hours of work in Anthony’s offensive skill development. He makes it look easy.
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“I think it’s just natural. I don’t go out there saying, ‘I’m trying to look cool. I’m trying to be smooth.‘ I just think that’s my game,” Anthony said.
It isn’t just the scoring that Anthony brings to Syracuse. His playmaking is an underrated aspect of his game. He had a pair of early assists to Donnie Freeman and he found Tyler Betsey for a corner three when the defense collapsed on Anthony. His defense has been good to start the year, an area of development that usually lags for most freshmen. His head coach shifts away from three-level scorer description that many seems to attached to Anthony’s game. Instead, Autry defines him more broadly.
“He’s a really good basketball player. He can pass, he can score, he can make plays. But I thought, you know, him getting to the rim aggressively,” Autry said, ”set the tone. We didn’t settle.”
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Anthony’s offensive game has shined early in his Syracuse career. He has made shots from all three levels. He’s struggled from the free throw line, however, stating in game one the depth perception in the dome makes the rims feel closer than they are. He wouldn’t provide an excuse for his 1-4 showing from the free throw line against Delaware State.
“I’m going to the gym right after this. 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,” Anthony said.
Just years ago when Syracuse was the first Power Four program to offer Anthony a scholarship, the son of Carmelo Anthony had yet to work himself into a top player in his class. He developed into a top-40 recruit and the No. 1 player in New York State. He’s come a long way in two short years.
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“Just consistency,” Anthony said of his development. “Days that you don’t want to be in the gym, you gotta go to the gym. You gotta keep getting better. Trust the process. This time two years ago I was barely playing on my high school team.”
With freshmen capturing the early headlines in the 2025-26 college basketball season, Anthony is throwing his name into the mix albeit against lesser competition. The road will get tougher from here. Anthony comes onto the college basketball scene along with Sadiq White as part of a loaded freshman class with the big three names of AJ Dybansta (BYU), Cam Boozer (Duke), Darryn Peterson (Kansas). Nate Ament (Tennessee) and Mikel Brown (Louisville) are up there while Koa Pete (Arizona) and Caleb Wilson (North Carolina) have seen their star rise early. While those players are in a different strata, Anthony is throwing his name into the mix of talented freshmen in college basketball this season.
“A lot of other top guys, they were there already.” Anthony said. “I just kind of worked my way up. I just kind of stayed disciplined, stayed consistent and stayed in the gym. Now it’s paying off at the right time.”
Autry noted that Anthony is just scratching the surface of what he can become. Autry appreciates Anthony’s groundedness, his willingness to fit in with the team and to work. Autry highlighted the privilege it is to have parents trust him and his staff with the opportunity to lead and mentor their kids. It’s no exception for Carmelo and Kiyan.
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“Their families entrusting us with their kids means a lot,” Autry said. “The one thing about Kiyan, it’s exciting to see he’s nowhere near what he can be. To watch him continue to grow and continually make effort every day. … I marvel at the way that he’s just one of the guys. And he comes in and works like the rest of the guys.”
