“UConn is a relatively small school”: Kiyan Anthony calls out “bandwagon fans”, asks for more loyal college fanbases
High school prospect Kiyan Anthony voiced his displeasure on bandwagon fans, urging them to be loyal to their alma mater, even if they are at the bottom of the team standings.
Anthony made the statement during his appearance on the "Unapologetically Angel" podcast hosted by former LSU star and Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese.
The four-star shooting guard out of Long Island Lutheran was asked about one thing that he wants to see less of in college basketball, and he answered:
"I want to see less bandwagon fans," Kiyan Anthony said (31:27).
He explained his answer by citing the sudden surge of fans supporting the UConn men's basketball team. The six-foot-five shooting guard called the fanbase uptick crazy.
"Once a team win now all of a sudden they the team's fan like UConn in men's basketball. UConn won the past two (national championships) and UConn is like a relatively small school ... but now that they're on, their fan base is like crazy.
"You wasn't a UConn fan before and they've won (back-to-back national titles), so why you are a UConn fan now?" the son of Syracuse legend and former NBA star Carmelo Anthony asked (31:30).
He urged college basketball fans to stay loyal and trust the process even if their teams are at the bottom of the standings.
Kiyan Anthony reveals his Mount Rushmore without his GOAT
Kiyan Anthony also revealed his NBA Mount Rushmore and they are Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and his father Carmelo Anthony.
Kiyan didn't include his favorite player in the big four—Philadelphia 76ers guard-forward Paul George. He was asked by Angel Reese to give his realistic view of basketball's Mount Rushmore.
Jordan, James and Bryant have won a combined 15 NBA titles, 12 Finals MVPs and 10 regular season MVPs during their illustrious careers and those were obvious picks for Kiyan Anthony. But the young guard explained his inclusion of his father, who has an NCAA championship ring with Syracuse as his only team achievement.
"My pops ... I really watched him like work every day and did what he did so that's my other one period," he said (37:22).
Kiyan Anthony will make his decision in two weeks as to whether he'll commit to Syracuse, USC or Auburn for the 2025-26 season. He paid visits to these schools over the past few months and he's liked his trips there.
The clock is ticking to his commitment date and the college basketball world is waiting for it.