Jordan Brand just tapped into the future of basketball, and Syracuse freshman Kiyan Anthony is officially part of the moment. The rising Orange star has signed an NIL deal with the iconic brand, joining an elite “Class of 2025” lineup that includes Duke’s Cameron and Cayden Boozer and UConn standout Sarah Strong. For Kiyan, this partnership is more than a career milestone. It is his legacy.
“To be part of the Jordan Brand family, to me, means carrying on a legacy,” Kiyan said. “I want my legacy to be more than just basketball. I want it to be on and off the court, giving back to the community, doing everything I can to uphold my last name and carry the torch.”
The legacy runs deep. His father, Carmelo Anthony, was the first Jordan Brand signature athlete more than 20 years ago, debuting the Jordan Melo 1.5 in 2004. Their connection to the brand goes back even further to the 2002 Jordan Brand Classic, where Carmelo met Michael Jordan and dropped 27 points. Fast forward, and Kiyan nearly matched that history, scoring 26 in the 2025 Jordan Brand Classic and taking home MVP.
Now he is bringing that energy straight to the college court. In his early games with Syracuse, Kiyan is already averaging 13.8 points on an impressive 52 percent from the field. When injuries opened up a starting opportunity, he delivered 18 and 19-point performances back to back. Even in Monday’s overtime loss to No. 3 Houston, he put up 10 points and two steals in 24 minutes, with Carmelo and La La sitting courtside.
Houston coach Kelvin Sampson couldn’t help but nod to the family lineage. “Let me tell you about (Kiyan), he’s a lot like his daddy,” Sampson said. “That boy can score that ball, he’s good.”
Jordan Brand’s announcement highlights why this new class matters. Kiyan and the Boozer twins have made history as the first men’s college players to secure NIL deals with the brand. The roster expansion signals a new era in which young hoopers are shaping culture just as much as they are shaping the game.
Nike describes the Class of 2025 as a group that “represent the future of the game and the next generation of the Jordan Brand family,” noting their commitment to greatness on and off the court. These partnerships are designed to uplift rising athletes while inspiring the next wave of young hoopers watching their every move.
Kiyan’s journey fits right in. From earning MVP at the Jordan Brand Classic to lighting up Nike’s EYBL circuit to becoming one of New York’s most exciting prospects, he has been carrying momentum into every space he enters. Being welcomed into the Jordan Brand family, especially after receiving his first pair of Jordans from MJ himself, brings the story full circle.
As the Class of 2025 steps into the spotlight, they are not just signing deals. They are carrying culture, legacy, and big dreams for the future of basketball. And for Kiyan Anthony, the torch is already burning bright.
Cover photo: Kiyan Anthony Joins Jordan Brand’s New 2025 Class of Greatness/Photo credit: Nike/Jordan Brand