That’s A Wrap: Anthony Leal

Welcome to “That’s A Wrap,” our player-by-player recap of the 2024-25 Indiana Hoosiers. Our player recaps continue with Anthony Leal.

Leal (26 games): 3.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 57.8 FG% in 20.9 minutes per game.

Previously: Bryson Tucker, Kanaan Carlyle, Mackenzie Mgbako, Myles Rice, Malik Reneau

Since his freshman season with Indiana men’s basketball, Anthony Leal embodied an increasingly rare trait in the modern landscape of the sport: loyalty.

The 2020 Indiana Mr. Basketball and four-star prospect was an impressive scorer during his storied career at Bloomington South and his commitment to the Hoosiers represented his passion and pride for the program he grew up admiring. He only played sparingly as a freshman, but there were signs of Leal’s potential as a defensive pest and energetic presence on the floor.

After Archie Miller was fired following the 2020-21 season, some players in a similar situation may have looked for a change in scenery. There were no guarantees Leal would have a major role in the rotation under Mike Woodson, but he stayed.

He started just two games his sophomore year and averaged 2.2 minutes per game as a junior. Each offseason, hundreds of players in Leal’s position navigated the transfer portal in hopes of revitalizing their careers. Still, Leal remained.

His role grew last year as a senior and while he only eclipsed double-digit points once, he became a key defensive specialist. After Indiana topped Michigan State on Senior Day, Leal announced his decision to return to the program for a fifth and final season as he pursued his MBA from the Kelley School of Business. The crowd exploded.

Leal’s scoring didn’t increase much this season. He remained in a limited role virtually throughout the non-conference slate, but as Indiana reached a crossroads midway through the season, Leal’s number was called.

The Hoosiers had just dropped consecutive losses to Iowa and Illinois on Jan. 11 and Jan. 14, respectively. Both came by 25 points. After the blowout loss to the Illini at home, Leal said the team couldn’t carry on like usual. He emphasized the need to look in the mirror and reassess priorities, acknowledging how those results were entirely unacceptable.

Leal started the ensuing game against Ohio State on Jan. 17, marking his first start since Feb. 8, 2022. His impact was immediate. He logged 31 minutes in the road win against the Buckeyes, becoming a player Woodson could ill-afford to take off the court due to his hustle and defensive ability.

Although transfer guards Myles Rice and Kanaan Carlyle came into the season expected to be staples of the rotation, Woodson instead leaned heavily on Leal as the season wound down. Leal played at least 30 minutes in Indiana’s final five wins of the season, including a season-high 35 minutes in the Hoosiers’ dominant win against Purdue on Feb. 23.

After growing up understanding the weight of the in-state rivalry, it was fitting that Leal played one of his best games of the season against the Boilermakers. He only scored eight points, but he pulled down five rebounds, dished out four assists, nabbed three steals and notched a couple blocks.

There was a legitimate case to be made for Leal deserving a spot on the Big Ten all-defensive team, but he surely wasn’t looking for accolades. Leal grew up dreaming of representing Indiana and after five seasons with the Hoosiers, he leaves as a shining example of loyalty and determination.

Bottom line: Leal will certainly be remembered fondly as a Hoosier. While he easily could’ve ditched the program and searched for more playing time at a different school, Leal stayed in Bloomington and carved out a considerable role for himself. After Indiana beat Ohio State to close the regular season, Leal teared up as he delivered a speech on behalf of the Hoosiers’ senior class. Although his playing career didn’t contain the individual or team success he may have hoped for, Leal will undoubtedly depart from IU as an ultimate glue guy and fan favorite.

Quotable: “All three of us take a lot of pride in wearing this jersey and representing it the right way, and we know what it means growing up as kids here. We love that challenge and knowing that with us as leaders and us as a foundation, we are going to be willing to overcome a lot of things if we just keep chipping away,” Leal said about himself, Trey Galloway and Luke Goode following Indiana’s win against Ohio State on March 8.

Category: Commentary

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