Kiyan Anthony gets heartfelt tribute from LuHi basketball and HC John Buck: “Your presence on and off of the court is undeniable”

As Kiyan Anthony prepares to take the next step in his basketball journey, his high school team at Long Island Lutheran in New York gave him a heartfelt send-off, filled with gratitude. In a tribute shared on social media, LuHi basketball and its coach, John Buck, reflected on Kiyan’s impact on and off the court during his time with the school.

On Friday, LuHi basketball shared an Instagram post with a voiceover from Buck. It paid tribute to Anthony, highlighting a collection of memorable moments from his career. The visuals captured Anthony's growth as a player, also recognizing his role in elevating the school’s national profile.

“A tribute to you Kiyan! Your presence on and off of the court is undeniable,” the caption read.

Buck spoke directly to anthony, expressing how much he meant to the program over the past two years.

“Kiy, coaching you for the past two and a half years has been an absolute pleasure," Buck said. "You know that when you stepped on this campus here, it brought a lot of eyes to LuHi basketball, and I’ll have to admit, I wasn't quite sure what it was totally going to entail.

"But your humility, your willingness to be coached, your willingness to buy into what we do here is something that I will always remember."

Buck also praised Anthony's resilience, particularly in battling an injury early in his senior year. Despite the setback, Anthony remained a constant supporter of his teammates, ultimately leading the school to an impressive 18-game winning streak.

That run lifted LuHi to the No. 1 spot in MaxPreps' national rankings and a trip to the EYBL Scholastic tournament finals. Anthony shined, earning MVP honors after winning The Throne.

"Your resilience really showed a lot," Buck said. "As you head off into Syracuse, I’m so excited to see you take those lessons and go make an impact in the ACC. Super proud of you Kiy and you certainly have left your mark on this program.”

As Kiyan heads to Syracuse, he carries not only his father Carmelo Anthony’s legacy, but also the lessons, memories and support from his LuHi family.

Carmelo Anthony congratulates son Kiyan Anthony after graduating from high school

Kiyan Anthony, the son of NBA legend Carmelo Anthony, graduated from Long Island Lutheran High School in New York in May. Kiyan's focus has shifted to college, where he’s set to continue both his academic and basketball career at Syracuse. It's the same school where his father became a national champion.

SportsCenter Next and NBA on ESPN collaborated on an Instagram post on June 3. It showed snippets from the graduation ceremony with Carmelo and La La Anthony congratulating their son on his special day.

“Kiyan just graduated from high school 🎓 On to Syracuse ➡️,” the caption read.

The ceremony featured Syracuse-themed decorations, including banners with Kiyan wearing an Orange jersey and face cutouts. Carmelo shared his pride about his son’s achievement.

"High school graduation,” Carmelo said. “What an accomplishment! This world has so much in store for you. Proud of you always."

Kiyan, the No. 36-ranked prospect in the 2025 class by ESPN, announced his commitment to Syracuse in November. He had an impressive senior season at Long Island Lutheran, and averaged 15.2 points per game in the Nike EYBL Scholastic league.