If you’re a millennial or older, you probably long for a simpler time, back when LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, second and ninth respectively on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, were little-known high-school players, teenage phenoms waiting to break out. Twenty years to the day of LeBron’s national television debut as a senior at Akron’s St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, James’ sons, Bryce and Bronny (the latter ranked 34th in his 2023 recruitment class), were on display during Monday night’s Geico High School Showcase, played before a national audience on ESPN2.
Monday’s showdown between Sierra Canyon and Christ the King (traveling all the way from Queens), brought plenty of star power to Southern California with James, Anthony, Kim and Khloe Kardashian, Nick Young (better known by his Twitter handle, “Swaggy P”), Kenyon Martin and Kobe Bryant’s eldest daughter Natalia rounding out a loaded cast of celebrity spectators. Led by Bronny’s 12 points, Sierra Canyon would protect its homecourt, beating the East Coast powerhouse 62-51 for its seventh win of the year.
CTK sophomore Kiyan Anthony, who was recently offered a scholarship to his father’s alma mater Syracuse University (where Carmelo has his number retired and a practice facility named in his honor), impressed with eight points in the losing effort. Justin Pippen, son of Hall-of-Famer Scottie Pippen (the Bulls legend and Lakers rookie Scotty Jr. were both in attendance), was similarly involved for Sierra Canyon, assisting on Bronny’s corner three to give the Mustangs an eight-point, third-quarter lead.
Bronny’s recruitment has been the subject of much speculation with the 6’3” guard still weighing offers from Kentucky, Memphis, Oregon, USC, Michigan and Ohio State. There’s also the possibility that James could bypass college, gaining a year of experience by playing in the G League or overseas before entering his name in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Needless to say, Monday’s festivities had hoops fans wondering where the years go, overcome by feelings of nostalgia, remembering when James and Anthony were still youngsters confined to the kid’s table, prodigious talents brimming with limitless potential.
If you haven’t noticed, a changing of the guard is upon us with elder statesmen like James and Anthony nearing the end of their historic careers, passing the torch to this generation’s best and brightest. It’s also a reminder of the enduring greatness of both players, particularly James, who, at almost 38, is still playing at an MVP level with no end in sight.
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