Carmelo Anthony knows exactly what it means to be a McDonald’s All-American. Back in 2002, he didn’t just play in the game—he owned it, proving to the world that he was one of the best high school players in the country. His son, Kiyan Anthony, was supposed to have that same moment. He worked for it, earned his spot as the top-ranked player in New York for the class of 2025, and had the talent to back it up. But when the final McDonald’s All-American Game roster was announced, his name was nowhere to be found. The reason? Well, Melo has his own take on that.
Days have passed since the announcement, but the frustration still lingers. In a recent episode of 7PM in Brooklyn, Carmelo didn’t hold back. “They jerked us,” he said, calling out what he sees as a broken selection process. “I think he (Kiyan) deserved to make it. No bias shit. I think he really put the work in and really deserved to be a McDonald’s All-American because of his journey and because of his trajectory and how his development went. You know, you’re talking about a kid who played freshman basketball his freshman year to becoming the number one player in the state of New York,” Melo explained, his pride for his son unmistakable.
But was this really just about eligibility rules, or is there something deeper going on?
The official explanation is simple: McDonald’s All-American rules require players to compete in at least 50% of their senior season. Unfortunately, Kiyan suffered an injury in November that sidelined him for over two months, making him automatically ineligible.
Rules are rules, sure. But when you step back and look at the bigger picture, you have to wonder—should a technicality really keep one of the country’s top young players from an opportunity he earned?
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