Kiyan Anthony drew a lot of attention in his college basketball debut for the University of Syracuse. The freshman stepped into a larger role in his debut following an injury to a teammate.
Watching him play, fans became nostalgic about his jumper because it is nearly identical to the signature move of his father, Carmelo Anthony. The smooth pull-up shot was nearly identical to that which Carmelo used throughout his entire career and became known for. After the moment went viral, Anthony addressed the comparisons following the game, offering insight into how much of his game is influenced by his father, and how much is his own.
What Did Kiyan Anthony Say About Recreating the Signature Move?
In Syracuse Basketball’s home opener against the Binghamton Bearcats, the 6’5″ guard from Brooklyn, NY made his debut. In 29 minutes, Anthony scored 15 points, three assists, and three rebounds. His shooting splits were 60% from the field, 33.3% from three-point range, and 50% from the free-throw line. The influence on his game from his father was undeniable, and reporters asked Anthony about it after the game.
“It’s something I work on you know. Credit to my dad of course that was his shot and he passed it down on to me and we worked on that almost every day in the gym. I work on it at practice, so it was a shot I felt confident was going in.”
This response from the freshman highlights the intentionality of his game. Anthony has put work into developing the jumper with his dad and at practice. This move is part of his daily routine, not just a borrowed motion that he debuted for nostalgic reasons. The acknowledgement of his father shows appreciation, but the emphasis on repetition shows that it is also his shot now.
Next, a reporter asked, “For most people, that’s not a high percentage shot, so how do you get that down?” Anthony replied with, “Just confidence. I mean, I know the work I put in. I know mid-range is kind of the lost art, but my dad always preached to me that mid-range is the easiest way to score. So, I tried to get in there today and use my body and the mid-range shot fell. Even if I missed it, I wouldn’t consider it a bad shot.”
Kiyan Anthony on the similarity of his jump shot compared to his dad’s and Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony: “It’s something I work on. That was hit shot, he passed it down to me and work on it almost everyday in the gym.” pic.twitter.com/drYWspeSK9
— SyracuseOn247 (@SyracuseOn247) November 4, 2025
Confidence is the name of the game for Anthony, a similar trait that his father possessed throughout his career. He is right; the mid-range shot is a “lost art” due to the game shifting toward three-point shooting and high-percentage shots. Yet, he explains why the shot remains valuable, demonstrating a deeper understanding of scoring and spacing at a young age.