Kiyan Anthony entered Syracuse with much to prove — and most of those questions remain unanswered.
The son of Syracuse legend and Basketball Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony has had an up-and-down freshman season for the Orange, raising questions about his future.
ESPN analysts Terrence Oglesby and Seth Greenberg told The Post that Anthony has NBA potential, but they and Syracuse assistant coach Allen Griffin believe he could increase his stock with another year in college.
“He needs to be patient. Being a legacy is not easy because there’s so much expectation,” Greenberg said. “It’s all in working on the right things and not letting anyone else run your race.”
“He’s a very talented player. This is not one of these situations, it’s a superstar’s kid,” Oglesby said. “This is a kid who’s got size, who has ability. He does still have a lot to learn, but everybody who’s 18, 19 years old has a lot to learn.”
Kiyan Anthony drives on Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets guard Lamar Washington, Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Griffin said Anthony and the Orange’s staff haven’t discussed the decision about his future yet. They’re leaving that talk for the end of the season. Still, he believes another year would help Anthony, who is averaging 8.8 points per game, forge a legacy separate from his father’s.
Oglesby first noticed Anthony’s natural skill when he watched the Brooklyn native play at the Nike EYBL Peach Jam in high school. Though he mentioned the 18-year-old isn’t ready to be a “key cog” on an NCAA Tournament team, Oglesby said he can change any game when he’s hot.
Griffin said that one of Anthony’s biggest strengths is his ability to get to the free-throw line. That often comes when he attacks the rim, where Greenberg said he can also finish well by manipulating his release point.
Anthony displayed that in non-conference play with 18-point performances against Northeastern and Drexel and a career-high 19 versus Delaware State.
However, as Syracuse has waded into ACC play — and tougher opponents — Anthony has been plagued by inconsistency. There have been flashes of his tremendous potential, like when he posterized a Miami defender on a dunk on Jan. 24. But he’s also shot poorly in recent games, not even making a bucket against ACC bottom-feeders Boston College, Pitt and Notre Dame.
So far, Anthony’s minutes with Syracuse have been limited in part due to poor defense.
Oglesby mentioned Anthony has trouble closing out quickly and defending in space. Greenberg has noticed he also “melts” on screens and struggles in man-to-man situations, causing Syracuse to run a zone defense when he’s on the court.
Griffin, however, pointed out that many freshmen have to adjust to facing college offenses because they often enter with little defensive technique training from high school.
Kiyan Anthony dunks the ball against the Binghamton Bearcats in the second half at the JMA Wireless Dome. » …