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Carmelo Anthony, the Syracuse University basketball legend and father of current freshman Kiyan Anthony, has voiced strong support for new men's basketball head coach Gerry McNamara. The hiring was announced earlier this week in Syracuse and marks a homecoming for McNamara, who played alongside Anthony on the 2003 national championship team.
On his podcast, ‘7PM in Brooklyn,’ Anthony said he fully trusts McNamara to guide his son’s development, stating, “Gerry is going to bring something out of Kai, and the first way he’s going to do that is giving him that confidence that he needs.” Anthony emphasized that McNamara “checks all the boxes for a Syracuse head coach” and is confident his former teammate will help restore the Orange program’s reputation. According to Syracuse.com, Anthony also noted that “as an alumni, it was the right thing to do,” describing McNamara as someone who “bleeds orange.”
Kiyan Anthony, a four-star recruit, averaged 8.0 points per game during his freshman season. While he showed flashes of offensive potential, he also faced challenges, particularly with shooting consistency and defense. His father believes McNamara’s dedication and work ethic—calling him “one of the hardest-working guys I’ve ever seen”—will benefit Kiyan and the rest of the team. Anthony assured listeners that McNamara would be “in the gym with Kiyan, training him” over the summer. Inside the Loud House reports that Kiyan is expected to return for his sophomore season.
McNamara, who spent 15 years on the Syracuse staff before leading Siena University for two seasons, made headlines by turning a struggling Siena program into a conference champion and leading them to the NCAA Tournament. The Saints nearly upset top-seeded Duke, losing by just six points—a performance that Anthony said silenced critics of the hire. As reported by Yahoo Sports, Anthony said, "The plan is to build a program. Get a program back. That’s the plan."
McNamara plans to meet with current Syracuse players to discuss expectations and roster plans for the 2026–27 season. With support from Anthony and high hopes from the community, McNamara begins his head coaching tenure aiming to return Syracuse to national prominence.