"I'm not really looking at it as a commitment date": Kiyan Anthony reveals what he is more excited about on his college announcement day

Kiyan Anthony, the 6-foot-5 shooting guard from Long Island Lutheran High School in Glen Head, New York, will announce his college commitment on Friday during the season premiere of his father Carmelo Anthony's podcast, "7PM in Brooklyn."

Talking with Jason Jordan of "League Ready" on Tuesday, Kiyan Anthony talked about the real reason for his excitement on announcement day:

"I mean, I am not really looking at it as a commitment date; it's more like just a time where my whole family comes together. Okay, you know we don't have a lot of these times of year where the whole family comes from both my mom and my dad’s side, just so you know, collab, so I am looking at this time as a time where we could just bring everybody together.” (Time stamp: 11:14 - 11:31)

Kiyan’s father, NBA veteran Carmelo Anthony married actress/TV personality La La Vazquez in 2010. The couple separated in 2021, but remain close co-parents, actively supporting their son's ambitions and development.

Speaking further on the podcast, Kiyan Anthony shared what helped him effortlessly handle the pressure of the recruitment process:

“As far as basketball, obviously, it's a lot of pressure. My dad helped me a lot, you know, to relieve that, like all the coaches that were on be being able to call them and tell them sorry, we are not going to put you in a five or six, so just telling them that and they have to accept it, so I just left it. You know, my dad, and you know, my agents handle a lot of that stuff.” (Time stamp: 11:31 - 11:51)

For now, Kiyan is focused on his senior year at LuHi, with college being a consideration when the time comes:

“So you know, as far as the commitment, I feel like it's just going to be ready to hoop. I’m going to be ready to start the season, and then college is there when it's there, so still focus on the senior season.” (Time stamp: 11:51-12:03)

Kiyan Anthony has been a standout at LuHi. He averaged approximately 10.3 points, 2.4 assists and 2.3 rebounds per game during the 2023-24 season. He also posted 19.6 points per game on the Nike EYBL circuit and a 29-point performance in the team finals against the Houston Hoops.

Besides dad Carmelo Anthony, Kiyan Anthony shares a close bond with mom La La

While Carmelo Anthony has a bigger impact on his son’s basketball career, his mother, La La, shares deep ties with him as well. In a Q&A session on her Instagram in August, the MTV star was asked:

“How do you and Kiyan have such a close bond and relationship?"

The 42-year-old detailed how close the two of them are:

“He’s my only one, so it’s been him and me for a long time. I always said when I had a child I wanted him to be my best friend, and I wanted him to look at me as his best friend. So, I think I just created that bond from love with Kiyan, but at the same time he still understands I’m his mom first.”

As for his college decision, Kiyan Anthony is down to two programs, Syracuse and USC. Syracuse is the most likely one to get his pledge, but USC isn't out of the race yet.