By CHARLIE PARENT
Kiyan Anthony, son of NBA legend Carmelo Anthony, has cut his list to six schools, including his father’s alma mater Syracuse, he confirmed to ZAGSBLOG Friday. The other five programs are Auburn, Florida State, Ohio State, USC and Rutgers.
The 6-foot-5 guard out of Long Island Lutheran and Team Melo AAU made headlines last week at the Nike EYBL Peach Jam, dropping 40 points on 14-of-17 shooting.
Anthony doesn’t have official visits setup, but told ZAGSBLOG he’s working on dates, wanting to see an Ohio State football game and others.
He broke down all of his options at Peach Jam:
Syracuse: “I just like the atmosphere, you know, obviously my dad went there 20 something years ago, so I just like the atmosphere, I like the family environment. The coaches, I feel like they’re recruiting me for myself, and not just because of my father. That’s what I like. I just feel like they’re rebuilding, and they’re looking to get a winning team. I feel like I can help them do that if I was to go there.”
On relationship with head coach Adrian Autry: “Yeah, its building. Definitely with Coach Brenden [Straughn] from Syracuse, that’s really my main outlet of communication. But with Coach Autry, he’s starting to reach out to me on a daily basis and really trying to recruit me. He’s been at all my games so far, so just trying to build that relationship with him.”
Ohio State: “Yeah, definitely with Ohio State I like coach [Jake] Diebler. He’s a newer coach, but he definitely knows what he’s doing. I feel like when I talk to him, he definitely has a blueprint and a plan of what guys he wants to come. He’s very strict on who he recruits and stuff like that. So I feel like him recruiting me, that’s really a blessing. I’ve watched them this past year. I know a few guys that go to Ohio State, so just watching them, seeing how hard they play. And they get guys to the next level.”
Auburn: “Haven’t really had a chance to have a deep conversation with coach [Bruce] Pearl yet, but he definitely reached out to me, you know, on a broader basis. But definitely coach [Ira] Bowman, who reaches out to me and my teammate Tyler Jackson on a daily basis, I feel like he’s trying to carry that backcourt to Auburn. I’m looking forward to taking a visit and creating a deeper relationship with coach Pearl.”
USC: “USC is really the most recent school that has really shown interest in offering me and stuff like that. Coach [Quincy] Pondexter, which is an assistant coach over there, he definitely shows me a lot of love. And coach [Eric] Musselman, this is going to be his first year, so he’s just trying to get it back to where USC is supposed to be. And coach Musselman was at my game two days ago, so he really shows love. I’m going to hop in a call with the coaching staff with my family after Peach. He texted me actually the past three or four days, just telling me what I need to do better, telling me I had a really good game and stuff like that.”
Rutgers: ”You know they’re close to home. My guys are going there, Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey. So I’m looking forward to just, I have an open mind, looking forward to just going up there one day, taking a little hour and a half job seeing what Rutgers is talking about. Even if it’s unofficial. And then take my official after. I’m looking forward to that.”
Florida State: “It’s definitely growing with coach [Kevin] Nickleberry. I feel like I’d take a second visit to them but I’m just interested to see who Florida State gets as their players.”
Follow Charlie on Twitter
Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter
Follow ZAGSBLOGHoops on Instagram
And Like ZAGS on Facebook
