It’s actually wild how much height matters in the basketball world. One day you're a "shifty guard" and the next, you're a "prototypical wing" because of a four-inch growth spurt that happened while you were literally sleeping. If you’ve been following Kiyan Anthony, you know the narrative has shifted fast. People used to look at him as just Carmelo’s kid—a smaller, skinny guard trying to find his way at Christ the King.
Now? He’s walking into the JMA Wireless Dome with a frame that finally matches the family name.
Honestly, the confusion around kiyan carmelo anthony height usually comes from outdated recruiting profiles. If you go on Prep Hoops or some old scout blogs from 2022, you might see him listed at 6'1" or 6'2". That version of Kiyan is gone. Currently, as he navigates his freshman season at Syracuse, Kiyan is officially listed at 6'5" and roughly 185 pounds.
The Growth Spurt That Changed Everything
Growth spurts in the Anthony family aren't exactly a secret. Carmelo was always a physical marvel, but Kiyan took a slightly more scenic route to his current stature. Between his sophomore and senior years of high school at Long Island Lutheran, he shot up. He went from being a talented but physically outmatched guard to a 6'5" shooting guard with a "KD-lite" build.
That extra length changed his entire draft stock.
When you’re 6'1", you have to be a pure point guard. You have to handle like a magician. But at 6'5", the game opens up. You can shoot over the top of defenders. You can switch onto forwards. You can actually see the floor like an NBA prospect. This physical leap is why he jumped into the top 35 of the Class of 2025 rankings.
It wasn't just that he got better at shooting; he got taller, and suddenly those midrange jumpers—the ones that look so much like his dad's—became unguardable.
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Kiyan Anthony vs. Carmelo Anthony: Comparing the Frames
Everyone wants to compare him to Melo. It's inevitable. It's also kinda unfair.
Carmelo was a different animal. By the time Melo got to Syracuse in 2002, he was a 6'8" bruiser who could out-muscle grown men. He had "old man strength" at 18. Kiyan is a different type of athlete. He’s more of a fluid, wiry guard.
- Carmelo Anthony: 6'8", 240 lbs (at his peak), pure power forward/small forward hybrid.
- Kiyan Anthony: 6'5", 185 lbs, pure shooting guard.
There’s a three-inch gap there. Will Kiyan hit 6'8"? Maybe. He’s only 18, and boys often keep growing until they’re 20 or 21. But even if he stays at 6'5", he’s already taller than many starting guards in the NBA today.
Why the "Official" Height Often Feels Wrong
You've probably noticed that height in basketball is... flexible. A guy might be 6'4" in socks but the team lists him at 6'6" to make him look more intimidating on the scouting report.
For Kiyan, the 6'5" measurement seems legit. When he stands next to his Syracuse teammate Sadiq White—who is a freakishly athletic forward—Kiyan doesn't look out of place. He has long arms and a high waist, which are classic signs that a kid might still have an inch or two left in the tank.
But height is only half the battle.
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He’s currently playing in the ACC, which is a league full of 23-year-old "super seniors" who have been in the weight room for five years. Kiyan’s biggest hurdle right now isn't his height; it's his weight. Being 6'5" is great until a 220-pound defender bumps you off your spot. That’s why his stats have fluctuated this season, like that 18-point outburst against Northeastern followed by some quieter games in conference play.
Living in the Shadow of #15
It’s gotta be weird. You’re playing in the same arena where your dad’s jersey is hanging in the rafters. You’re wearing the Syracuse Orange, and every time you miss a shot, someone on Twitter mentions your father’s 2003 championship run.
Kiyan has been incredibly vocal about "creating his own lane."
He chose Syracuse because Coach Adrian Autry and Brendan Straughn recruited him for him, not for his last name. They saw a 6'5" floor-spacer who could eventually lead the team in scoring. He’s not trying to be the next Melo. He’s trying to be the first Kiyan.
What the Future Holds
So, what should you actually expect?
The scouts are looking at his frame and seeing a pro-style guard. If he stays at 6'5" and adds 15 pounds of muscle, he becomes a serious NBA prospect. His shooting form is already elite—honestly, it might be smoother than his dad's was at this age.
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He’s currently averaging around 10 points per game as a freshman. Those aren't "one-and-done" superstar numbers yet, but they're very solid for a kid who is still growing into his limbs.
Actionable Takeaways for Following Kiyan's Career
If you’re tracking his development, don't just look at the box score. Look at these three things:
- Defensive Versatility: Can he use that 6'5" frame to guard multiple positions? If he can’t defend at the college level, his height doesn't matter for the NBA.
- Shooting Consistency: He’s currently struggling a bit from the three-point line (around 23%). If that number climbs to 35% as he gets stronger, he’s a lottery talent.
- Physical Maturity: Watch how he handles contact. As he fills out that frame, you’ll see him finishing at the rim instead of settling for floaters.
Kiyan Anthony isn't a finished product. He’s a 6'5" work in progress with one of the best mentors in the history of the game. Whether he grows another two inches or stays right where he is, the tools are all there.
Keep an eye on the Syracuse games through the rest of the 2026 season. The way he uses his size against older, more physical ACC guards will tell you everything you need to know about his NBA future.
Check the latest Syracuse roster updates once a month. Teams often re-measure players mid-season, and with Kiyan, a late-teen growth spurt wouldn't surprise anyone.