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Kiyan Anthony entered Syracuse with much to prove — and most of those questions remain unanswered.
The son of Syracuse legend and Basketball Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony has had an up-and-down freshman season for the Orange, raising questions about his future.
ESPN analysts Terrence Oglesby and Seth Greenberg told The Post that Anthony has NBA potential, but they and Syracuse assistant coach Allen Griffin believe he could increase his stock with another year in college.
“He needs to be patient. Being a legacy is not easy because there’s so much expectation,” Greenberg said. “It’s all in working on the right things and not letting anyone else run your race.”
“He’s a very talented player. This is not one of these situations, it’s a superstar’s kid,” Oglesby said. “This is a kid who’s got size, who has ability. He does still have a lot to learn, but everybody who’s 18, 19 years old has a lot to learn.”
Griffin said Anthony and the Orange’s staff haven’t discussed the decision about his future yet. They’re leaving that talk for the end of the season. Still, he believes another year would help Anthony, who is averaging 8.8 points per game, forge a legacy separate from his father’s.
Oglesby first noticed Anthony’s natural skill when he watched the Brooklyn native play at the Nike EYBL Peach Jam in high school. Though he mentioned the 18-year-old isn’t ready to be a “key cog” on an NCAA Tournament team, Oglesby said he can change any game when he’s hot.
Griffin said that one of Anthony’s biggest strengths is his ability to get to the free-throw line. That often comes when he attacks the rim, where Greenberg said he can also finish well by manipulating his release point.
Anthony displayed that in non-conference play with 18-point performances against Northeastern and Drexel and a career-high 19 versus Delaware State.
However, as Syracuse has waded into ACC play — and tougher opponents — Anthony has been plagued by inconsistency. There have been flashes of his tremendous potential, like when he posterized a Miami defender on a dunk on Jan. 24. But he’s also shot poorly in recent games, not even making a bucket against ACC bottom-feeders Boston College, Pitt and Notre Dame.
So far, Anthony’s minutes with Syracuse have been limited in part due to poor defense.
Oglesby mentioned Anthony has trouble closing out quickly and defending in space. Greenberg has noticed he also “melts” on screens and struggles in man-to-man situations, causing Syracuse to run a zone defense when he’s on the court.
Griffin, however, pointed out that many freshmen have to adjust to facing college offenses because they often enter with little defensive technique training from high school.
“The biggest transition high school players have to make, it’s on the defensive side,” said Greenberg, who noted that Anthony’s issues have been magnified due to his name recognition.
“It looks easy on TV, and it’s very hard in person. The screens are bigger, the players are faster and longer.”
Despite his weaker defense, Oglesby and Griffin believe Anthony has dealt well with the pressure bestowed on him because of his father’s legacy. Carmelo arrived at Syracuse as a three-level scorer with a college-ready body and promptly led the Orange to the national championship in 2003.
Kiyan still needs to develop his 3-point shot but has a knack for attacking the paint like his father.
“From day one, he knew that the target was gonna be on his back,” Griffin said. “He prepared himself for that. He has a toughness level that helps him with those situations.”
Both Oglesby and Greenberg think Anthony should stray from his father’s one-and-done trajectory. Greenberg was blunt, saying he’s not an NBA-caliber player right now.
He believes Anthony can get there, but he’s not physically ready. An extra year with more time in the weight room and dissecting film could pay dividends.
If Anthony stays at Syracuse, there will be potential for more opportunities with senior J.J. Starling graduating and star forward Donnie Freeman likely headed to the draft. He suggested Anthony could jump to the 15-17 points-per-game range.
There also could be an advantage in holding out for a weaker 2027 NBA Draft class. This year’s crop, which features star freshmen Cameron Boozer, Darryn Petersen and AJ Dybansta, is one of the best in the past 20 years, Oglesby said.
“It’s OK to be (a freshman). Some guys just aren’t ready,” Oglesby said. “Kiyan is further along than 90% of freshmen in college basketball. It’s just the NBA is a whole different beast.”
There is hope, though. Both analysts think Anthony could ultimately forge an NBA path thanks to his strong outside shooting potential — despite making just 24.6 percent of his 3s this season, as Greenberg attributes that mostly to poor shot selection.
Greenberg emphasized that an NBA opportunity needs to be earned; it isn’t a rite of passage because of his name. But the skills are there, and with a potential second season, he can set himself up for that jump in the future.
“He’s not ready to play in an NBA game tomorrow. I do think there’s a chance that down the line, whether it’s after next year, or after a few years, it is possible,” Oglesby said.
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