One sentence from Kiyan Anthony should have every Syracuse fan smiling.
“Honestly, I feel like if anybody else got the job, I probably would have transferred.”
Kiyan flat-out admitted that if Syracuse had hired someone other than Gerry McNamara, he likely would’ve entered the transfer portal.
For a program coming off five straight missed NCAA Tournaments, losing the son of Carmelo Anthony was that close to happening.
Instead, McNamara prevented it before it ever happened.
Speaking with Mike Waters of Syracuse.com, Anthony explained that there was about to be a feeding frenzy. But while other schools were reaching out, he wasn’t interested in making a move until he spoke with McNamara.
“A lot of schools wanted me to come visit and everything like that. But I wanted to meet with G-Mac first before I did anything.”
The relationship and the history mattered more than the recruiting pitches.
“I remember coming here for the jersey retirement of my dad and him being there. Just growing up, his name being throughout my whole household my whole life. That’s my dad’s teammate. They won together. It’s historic.”
McNamara isn’t simply Syracuse’s head coach. He’s part of Anthony family history. And that trust appears to have become one of the biggest reasons Kiyan stayed.
Perhaps even more encouraging for Syracuse fans is why Kiyan enjoys playing for McNamara. The sophomore says G-Mac isn’t interested in empty compliments.
“He doesn’t flatter me with praise. He tells me the truth every day.”
That lines up perfectly with what McNamara has already said publicly about Kiyan.
Earlier this offseason, G-Mac praised him by saying he loved how coachable he is.
“When I push him, he looks at me straight in the eyes.”
That’s exactly what a coach wants to see.
No ego.
No entitlement.
Just a player who wants to improve.
Kiyan also reflected on last season’s disappointment.
“Last year was an emotional year for me and the whole team. It was not the year we wanted.”
Then came an intriguing addition.
“He (G-Mac) felt the same way.”
It’s a small comment, but an interesting one.
McNamara wasn’t on the Syracuse bench during that difficult season, yet Kiyan suggests he shared the frustration many Orange fans felt watching the program drift further from national relevance.
Now the two are trying to change it together.
That’s a recruiting win that never shows up in the rankings.
