Kiyan pays tribute to Melo's iconic Syracuse moment.
Kiyan Anthony Changes Physical Appearance to Honor Father Carmelo Anthony originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The image that defined a program’s breakthrough, Carmelo Anthony hoisting a Syracuse Post-Standard front page after the 2003 national title, has a new life this week.
A photo surfaced Tuesday showing Carmelo’s son, Kiyan Anthony, with an upper arm tattoo built around that moment, a nod to the program’s past as the freshman guard arrives on campus.
The composition mirrors the original frame but swaps the newspaper headline, "Champs" and photo of Melo with a paper that now reads "Legacy" and the image on the front is Kiyan’s own commitment shot.
This comes after Kiyan announced in June that he is headed to start his college career at the same program his father led to its only men’s basketball national championship.
Carmelo Anthony’s Historic Season At Syracuse
Carmelo’s lone season at Syracuse remains one of the most impactful freshman years in college basketball.
He averaged 22.2 points and 10.0 rebounds on 45.3% shooting, then authored a 6-0 NCAA Tournament run as the Final Four Most Outstanding Player.
In the title game, he posted 20 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists; two nights earlier, he poured in 33 against Texas to send the Orange to the final.
Syracuse finished 30-5, and Carmelo set multiple freshman marks at the school, including points (778) and rebounds (349) in a season.
Kiyan Anthony Following in His Father's Footsteps
Kiyan arrives as a 6-foot-5, 185-pound guard whose last two prep seasons made him one of the most coveted prospects in the 2025 class.
On the grassroots and all-star circuits, he logged notable peaks, such as winning the Iverson Classic People’s Choice award after a 25-point night and MVP of the Jordan Brand Classic with 26 points on 11-of-15 shooting.
Meanwhile, his NBPA Top 100 Camp showing (28.5 points per game) and EYBL run (19.6 points, 4.6 rebounds) further solidified his standing as the No. 7 shooting guard nationally and top-ranked recruit in New York, per 247 Sports.
He spent his senior year with Long Island Lutheran after opening his high school career at Christ the King.
The Orange haven’t danced since 2021, yet with the son of a former program legend back in the Dome, fans are hopeful that Kiyan can recreate some of that magic.
Related: John Collins Shares the Perfect Nicknames For New LA Clippers Teammates
Related: Kobe Bryant-Inspired WNBA Team Name Proposal Faces Backlash
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Basketball
