Syracuse's Kiyan Anthony reveals the honest pressure of being the son of Carmelo

Kiyan Anthony wants to make a name for himself.

That'll be easier said than done while playing at Syracuse University for Carmelo Anthony, who was the best player on the 2003 national champs at SU and has the practice facility named after him.

But it's just about time for Kiyan to begin doing just that. He's played a couple exhibition games, and his freshman season officially gets underway next week.

He's not his dad. Very few basketball players ever to step on a court could claim to be at the level of 'Melo.

But Kiyan is Kiyan, and that might just be good enough.

He certainly has to experience feelings that few hoopers have had, aside from someone like Bronny James.

In a new feature story by Syracuse's independent student newspaper, The Daily Orange, Kiyan told reporter Justin Girshon what it's really like.

“It’s definitely overwhelming,” Kiyan said. “I’m not even gonna lie and sit here like it’s a bed of roses. It’s definitely a lot of pressure.”

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Kiyan was the No. 32 recruit in his class, compared to Carmelo being the No. 2 recruit in his class.

At the end of his recruitment, Kiyan was down to Syracuse and USC. When he chose the Orange, his father recognized the importance.

“You talk about legacy, and you talk about family dynamics, you talk about passing things on down to your family, to your kids. And this is something that we passing, and we passing the baton to him,” Carmelo told The Daily Orange. “And now whatever he do with it, he do with it, and that’s on him.”

Syracuse's regular season begins Monday against Binghamton. 

Kiyan is expected to come off the bench, but he should see solid time more often than not as part of Adrian Autry's rotation.

There's likely a starting future, and the NBA could come calling eventually.

For now, Kiyan is a Syracuse University freshman, 23 falls after his father once was, trying to follow in the footsteps of his historic last name while trying to make his first name his own.

More college news: 

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