With Kiyan in Syracuse, Carmelo Anthony is going to be around more: ‘I would love to help the program’

Brooklyn, N.Y. – Carmelo Anthony said he plans to attend most of his son’s games next season when Kiyan Anthony suits up for the Orange.
But Anthony, the former Syracuse legend, also plans to be a much bigger presence in the Syracuse community.
Kiyan Anthony, a highly regarded prospect in the 2025 recruiting class, announced on Friday that he had decided to play for Syracuse next year.
At a party held in a renovated warehouse in the Red Hook district of Brooklyn to celebrate Kiyan’s decision, Carmelo said he would be making his way to Syracuse many times next season.
“I’ll be there,’’ said Carmelo, who as a freshman in 2003 led Syracuse to the basketball program’s only NCAA championship. “I’ll probably miss four games. Maybe four. I’ll be there.’’
Kiyan said he expects to see his dad at most of his games in Syracuse, too.
“My dad will be there, you know, probably every game,’’ Kiyan said. He then added this quip, “He’ll probably get a house there soon too.’’
Carmelo Anthony went on to say he would be more involved in the SU basketball program in terms of NIL interests and the Syracuse community with some potential business interests.
“I would love to help out the program any way I can,’’ Anthony said. “I would love to kind of bring new business developments, new business ideas, new concepts. I just think at the time that we all can kind of revitalize this community and we need everybody to do that.’’
Even though he spent just one season at Syracuse University, Anthony has remained connected to the school and the area. His name is on SU’s basketball practice facility; the Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Center.
In 2009 his Carmelo Anthony Foundation partnered with the Jim & Juli Boeheim Foundation to refurbish two outdoor courts at Wilson Park, located in the shadow of the JMA Wireless Dome.
In 2010, another court was redone in the city’s Schiller Park with help from both the Anthony and Boeheim foundations.
Anthony said he wants to continue his efforts in Syracuse with his son’s decision to play for the Orange.
“I’m always figuring out ways to give back to the community,’’ he said. “I mean, I was there like it wasn’t a year, but I spent every day and within that first year in the community, talking to people.
“So yeah, I’m gonna always feel connected,’’ Anthony added. “I have to do more and I always feel like I need to do more. So this just made it a lot more easier for me to kind of connect those dots and to continue building things that I want to build up.’’
Contact Mike Waters anytime: Email | Twitter