Kiyan Anthony does not see more than half of his NIL earnings for good reason.
According to Sports Illustrated, the basketball player, son of former NBA star Carmelo Anthony, is ranked among the top prospects in the 2025 class. He is currently a four-star recruit and the highest-ranked high school player in New York, playing for Long Island Lutheran High School in Glen Head, NY. As he prepared for the collegiate level, he gained interest from the University of Southern California, Auburn University, and Florida State University. Ultimately, he committed to Syracuse University in New York.
“Just looking at Syracuse and seeing, like, what could be done over there if I was to go over there,” Kiyan shared in a statement on the school’s website. “They already have top people coming in, who I’m close with. Young coaching staff that I can connect to. Close to home, 45-minute flight. They would have me catching 6-hour flights to California. Just all of that, and then the ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference), they play Duke, Carolina. They play all the good schools. All of that plays a part as to why I chose Syracuse.”
What’s more, Kiyan’s future is not only appearing bright on the court but also beyond. He has secured name, image, likeness (NIL) deals with Nerf, the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation, and PSD Underwear, which marked his first partnership. In November 2024, it was estimated his NIL valuation was $1.1 million, according to Essentially Sports.
However, over half his earnings are being stashed away for good reason and this was suggested by Carmelo, who recalls having to learn about money management the hard way.