With the beginning of school basketball season on the horizon, we’ve transitioned from our take a look at different Massive Ten packages to our player-by-player previews of the 2022-23 Indiana roster.

Right now, our participant profiles proceed with a take a look at junior Anthony Leal.

Beforehand: Malik Reneau, CJ Gunn, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Kaleb Banks, Tamar Bates, Logan Duncomb

As a Bloomington native, it appears like Anthony Leal was born to play in Meeting Corridor.

The 2020 Indiana Mr. Basketball, Leal completed his sophomore yr with the Hoosiers similarly as he did his freshman yr. He bought sparing taking part in day off the tip of the bench in 17 video games and totaled two begins for Mike Woodson. As a freshman, Leal performed in 20 video games for Archie Miller.

The 6-foot-5 guard began his first profession sport on Dec. 22 towards Northern Kentucky, resulting from a Parker Stewart disciplinary situation which saved the same old starter on the bench for the primary half. Then, in February, Leal began at Northwestern after 5 Indiana gamers had been suspended — together with guards Stewart and Xavier Johnson. At Northwestern, Leal tied his career-high of 34 minutes and scored 5 factors.

Leal’s greatest sport in an Indiana uniform got here in January of his freshman yr at Wisconsin. In Madison, Leal performed 34 minutes and shot 3-of-6 from past the arc. Leal completed with 9 factors off these 3pointers, a career-high in each classes.

Heading into his junior yr, Leal informed Contained in the Corridor he’s emphasised eliminating hesitancy and feeling extra assured with the ball in his fingers. When Leal noticed the court docket the previous couple of years, that timidness was noticeable. He simply seemed uncomfortable.

Leal additionally has room to enhance on the defensive finish. At instances, Leal has struggled to defend with out fouling. In each the Wisconsin and Northwestern video games talked about earlier than, Leal ended these video games with seven mixed fouls. It’s a difficulty that might want to change if Leal needs to see extra of the court docket. Below Mike Woodson, the emphasis on particular person protection has been big. We noticed that final yr with guys like Leal, Khristian Lander and Tamar Bates. When convention play began and so they couldn’t sustain defensively, they merely didn’t play as a lot.

“I’ve bought essentially the most potential defensively… I believe if I can proceed to develop and develop and be a man that may guard the opposite staff’s greatest wing participant, then I’m gonna have an important alternative to play,” Leal stated at Indiana’s media day.

Offensively, Leal got here to Indiana as a knockdown shooter, nevertheless it hasn’t actually labored out that approach up to now. In his first two years, Leal solely shot 16-of-52 (31 %) on 3-pointers. In two years, Leal has solely tried seven subject targets that weren’t 3-pointers. If Leal can change into a two-way participant and shoot from outdoors at a excessive clip, he might see extra time this yr. It could be out of the realm of risk to see Leal getting up and downhill at this level in his profession.

It’s additionally essential to notice that Leal has been coping with an harm. At Hoosier Hysteria on Oct. 7, Leal was sporting a strolling boot on his proper foot and didn’t take part within the scrimmage or any competitions. That is one thing to control as we close to nearer to the exhibitions and the beginning of the common season.

Final season, Leal’s impression was primarily seen on the bench energizing his staff. You could have seen the bench’s candy-striped leg kick free throw celebration within the Massive Ten match or Leal asking Race Thompson who has the perfect beard on the staff at media day.

Backside Line: Barring any accidents — Leal possible gained’t see a lot of a rise in minutes this season. However his function on the bench doesn’t go unnoticed. If he can present a spark of power when he does see the court docket and proceed being a supportive teammate, it is going to go a great distance for his fellow Hoosiers on the court docket. Protection and confidence had been the factors of emphasis for Leal over the summer time. If he can change into a dependable 3-point shooter and compete on the defensive facet, it’ll add some wholesome depth to Indiana’s bench this season.

Quotable: “You’ll have your stats and all these items you earn on the court docket, however the place you actually impression individuals is what you do in addition to that. So I attempt to set a very good instance, be an important pal, be an important individual and by way of the best way I’m on the bench… I simply think about if I had been on the market taking part in I’d need my bench to help me and cheer me on and help me it doesn’t matter what occurs. So I attempt to begin that and kinda get a development going the place guys are all supporting one another and the power’s contagious. So I attempt to invoke some ardour and I believe it has helped and can proceed to assist.” – Leal on the impression he has made on the bench and within the locker room.

Filed to: 2022-23 season preview, Anthony Leal