Kiyan Anthony, Long Island Lutheran bow out of prestigious winter high school basketball tournament

Les Schwab Invitational replaces New York power with Tacoma, Washington, ‘dark horse’
Les Schwab Invitational trophies and awards wait idly on championship Saturday of the 2023 tournament on Dec. 30 when Columbus (Florida) beat Harvard-Westlake (California) in dramatic fashion.
Les Schwab Invitational trophies and awards wait idly on championship Saturday of the 2023 tournament on Dec. 30 when Columbus (Florida) beat Harvard-Westlake (California) in dramatic fashion. / Photo by Naji Saker, SBLive Sports

PORTLAND, Oregon — The Les Schwab Invitational will boast a new venue and a nationally competitive field but will no longer headline the son of a future NBA Hall of Famer.

The long-running 16-team holiday showcase was originally set to feature a high-profile legacy entrant when it tips on Thursday at Portland State's Viking Pavilion — New York prep powerhouse Long Island Lutheran, led by top guard Kiyan Anthony, son of NBA great Carmelo Anthony, who himself played in the tournament with Oak Hill in 2001.

LuHi backed out of the tournament in late November due to a logistical conflict, tournament director John McCallum told High School on SI.

Had the Crusaders (4-4) remained in the field, there was question as to whether the 6-foot-5 Kiyan Anthony, a four-star and On3's No. 30 prospect in the country who has been in street clothes at the City of Palms Classic, would even play. 

>> How the Les Schwab Invitational rose to national holiday hoops prominence

LuHi opened the season as SI’s No. 3 ranked team in the country but has had an up-and-down start playing without the Syracuse commit. Its LSI debut won't be in 2024. Instead, the Crusaders are scheduled to play Columbus (Florida) on Dec. 28.

“They want to come back,” McCallum said.

Without Long Island Lutheran, the field is hardly bare. Nationally ranked Gonzaga College (D.C), La Lumiere (Indiana) and budding Idaho powerhouse Owyhee will take on an Oregon field led by Wake Forest commit Isaac Carr and Central Catholic.

Carmelo Anthony sits with his son Kiyan Anthony, a four-star Syracuse commit, at the Boston Celtics-New York Knicks game at M
Carmelo Anthony sits with his son Kiyan Anthony, a four-star Syracuse commit, at the Boston Celtics-New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden. / Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Once LuHi dropped, tournament organizers had discussions with Arizona charter school Dream City Christian and Seattle powers Rainier Beach and Garfield before landing on WIAA (Washington) small-school power Annie Wright to replace Long Island Lutheran.

The Gators (6-1) are led by 6-foot-7 forward Martin Kaupinger, who is committed to Indiana State.

‘We’re super excited about Annie Wright,” McCallum said. “They could be a dark horse and make their name. And they kind of know with the team they have they can make some national waves.”

The long-running Portland-area tournament that pits the best boys teams in Oregon against a competitive national field has featured Kevin Durant, Tyson Chandler, Kevin Love, the elder Anthony and more recently Bronny James (Los Angeles Lakers) and Ron Holland II (Detroit Pistons).

LES SCHWAB INVITATIONAL SCHEDULE

Thursday, Dec. 26:

Camas (Washington) vs. Westview, 3 p.m.

Roosevelt vs. Southridge, 4:30 p.m.

Barlow vs. Jesuit, 6 p.m.

Mountainside vs. Central Catholic, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 27:

Owyhee (Idaho) vs. Grant, 3 p.m.

Annie Wright (Washington) vs. Nelson, 4:30 p.m.

Gonzaga College (Washington D.C.) vs. Lakeridge, 6 p.m.

La Lumiere (Indiana) vs. Baker, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 28: Quarterfinals

Sunday, Dec. 29: Semifinals

Monday, Dec. 30: Championship, third place game


More Les Schwab Invitational coverage:

-- Andy Buhler | @AndyBuhler


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Andy Buhler
ANDY BUHLER

Andy Buhler is a Portland, Oregon-based sportswriter with more than nine years of experience covering high school sports across the country. He's covered the likes of Paolo Banchero and Tari Eason, served on state tournament seeding committees and launched the SBLive/Sports Illustrated Power 25 national boys basketball rankings. He has covered everything from the Final Four, MLS in Atlanta to local velodrome before diving into the world of preps. His bylines can be found in The News Tribune (Tacoma, Washington), The Associated Press, The Columbian (Vancouver, Washington), The Oregonian and more. He holds a journalism degree from Gonzaga.