NIL deals are rewriting the playbook for college athletes, and Kiyan Anthony admits that. He is stepping into a spotlight that few high school graduates ever experience. With a last name linked to NBA greatness, he should have no shortage of financial opportunities.
Still, Kiyan shows real appreciation for his seven-figure NIL valuation before even stepping on the college court. The four-star recruit believes that everyone is benefiting from NIL. For Kiyan, this is an experience unlike any he has had in his basketball career.
How Kiyan Anthony Is Embracing NIL Deals Before Playing College Basketball
During the June 26 episode of his father Carmelo Anthony’s “7 PM in Brooklyn” podcast, Kiyan shared his thoughts on the changing landscape of college sports. The episode also featured No. 2 overall pick Dylan Harper. Kiyan spoke openly about how NIL opportunities are shaping the future for young athletes like himself.
The high school standout explained that NIL is allowing them to build their brand.
“I feel like at the end of the day, like there’s so much money out there, everybody could eat,” he said. “You don’t gotta worry about how much this guy getting paid. There’s no parameters out there.
“Even if you’re not playing on the team, you can still get some money. You can still do a deal. Like everybody could win at the end of the day. That’s why I’m saying team success can always lead to individual.”
Based on his overall brand and marketability, Kiyan’s valuation stands at an estimated $1.1 million NIL. He has signed deals with major companies like PSD Underwear, Nerf, and AT&T, and also co-founded his own clothing brand, One Way Clothing, at just 16 years old.
The best part is that this seven-digit valuation was already in place before he officially enrolled at Syracuse University.
“I’m still in high school trying to get my friends some money, trying to get my family some money. So it’s like, you just gotta learn earlier,” he added. “People back then, they was waiting until they got to the league… now we in high school with financial teams, with, you know, agencies. It was never like that before.”
For more tap in to the full Dylan Harper & Kiyan Anthony episode!
📺: https://t.co/LA4oZNeLFV
🎧: https://t.co/dDDVCFdyS9 pic.twitter.com/7N0XFa6buY— 7PM in Brooklyn (@7PMinBrooklyn) June 26, 2025
Former Rutgers guard also shared a similar view.
“There’s no blueprint to follow,” Harper said. “For me, I only wanted to do deals with good people. It wasn’t nothing about the money. It was about like, a relationship with a person.”
KEEP READING: 2026 NBA Draft Predictions: Top College Basketball Players to Watch Out For, Including AJ Dybantsa
While NIL has faced some controversy, including lawsuits such as the one where Wisconsin and the Big Ten accused Miami of using NIL deals to poach Xavier Lucas, Kiyan’s view offers a positive side. He believes the best part of NIL is the freedom it gives young athletes to support themselves and help their communities at the same time.
