A player whose last name already carries a certain amount of attention, Kiyan Anthony has been in the spotlight since before he ever set foot on a college court. As his sophomore offseason progresses, it’s difficult to ignore how much the focus has shifted from potential to physical preparedness. On paper, the figures are fairly straightforward: 172 pounds a year ago, 195 pounds now. However, statistics seldom provide a complete picture, and this one seems to be in the process of being written.
The trainer who worked with Carmelo Anthony for years near the end of his career, Chris Brickley, posted the update with a level of enthusiasm that suggested he was genuinely happy, not just putting on a show for an audience. He talked about body control, angles, contact, and shooting while tired. It sounded more like a coach crossing things off a list he had created especially for this child than a press release. That distinction is important. While many athletes share training videos during the offseason, fewer have an explanation of the real basketball logic behind the work.
By most accounts, Anthony’s first year at Syracuse was difficult. The team struggled in ACC play, finished 15-17, and never really settled into what was already a program in transition. Before fading into the rhythm—or lack thereof—that characterized Syracuse’s season, he averaged 8.0 points in limited minutes, showcasing his scoring prowess in brief bursts (17.3 points per game over his first three games, if you go back and check). The weight gain may be a direct reaction to what he went through on the court that year—being bumped off his spot and losing positioning against bigger, more experienced guards—rather than being the result of offseason vanity.
Additionally, there’s a feeling that this change has significance outside of basketball. Alongside Carmelo, the new head coach, Gerry McNamara, led Syracuse to a national championship in 2003. It is not an accidental connection. As Kiyan explained at media day last fall, entering the Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Center every day is a strange kind of pressure that is both motivating and a continual reminder of expectations he didn’t necessarily choose for himself.
Investors in college basketball seem to think that physical development is the best indicator of seriousness—yes, there is something almost market-like about how programs and fans evaluate young players in this era of NIL deals and transfer portals. Durability is suggested by a larger frame. Instead of chasing highlight clips, it suggests someone who worked out during the summer. To be honest, it’s still unclear if that results in higher shooting percentages or more formidable defense. A jumper’s decision-making during transition is not automatically improved by twenty-three pounds.
Nevertheless, the trajectory here seems plausible. Syracuse needs a three-level scorer, and if the videos are any guide, Anthony’s frame—which is now wider through the shoulders—seems suited for that kind of position. The real question, which no one can yet answer, is whether McNamara’s system unlocks it. November, not May, would always be used to gauge the “summer of separation,” as Brickley called it.
FAQs
1. How much weight has Kiyan Anthony gained since his freshman year?
He gained 23 pounds, going from 172 to 195.
2. Who is training Kiyan Anthony this offseason?
Chris Brickley, who previously trained his father, Carmelo Anthony.
3. What was Kiyan Anthony’s scoring average as a freshman?
He averaged 8.0 points per game.
4. Who is Syracuse’s new head basketball coach?
Gerry McNamara, a former Syracuse national champion.
5. What record did Syracuse finish with during Anthony’s freshman season?
They finished 15-17 overall, 6-12 in the ACC.