With the beginning of school basketball season on the horizon, we’ve transitioned from our look at other Big Ten programs 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 looks 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 obtained sparing enjoying break day the top 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 recreation on Dec. 22 in opposition to Northern Kentucky, as a consequence of a Parker Stewart disciplinary challenge 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 finest recreation 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 advised Contained in the Corridor he’s emphasised eliminating hesitancy and feeling extra assured with the ball in his arms. When Leal noticed the courtroom the previous couple of years, that timidness was noticeable. He simply appeared 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 problem that might want to change if Leal desires to see extra of the courtroom. Below Mike Woodson, the emphasis on particular person protection has been enormous. We noticed that final yr with guys like Leal, Khristian Lander and Tamar Bates. When convention play began they usually couldn’t sustain defensively, they merely didn’t play as a lot.
“I’ve obtained essentially the most potential defensively… I feel if I can proceed to develop and develop and be a man that may guard the opposite staff’s finest wing participant, then I’m gonna have an incredible alternative to play,” Leal mentioned at Indiana’s media day.
Offensively, Leal got here to Indiana as a knockdown shooter, but it surely hasn’t actually labored out that manner to this point. In his first two years, Leal solely shot 16-of-52 (31 %) on 3-pointers. In two years, Leal has solely tried seven area objectives that weren’t 3-pointers. If Leal can turn into a two-way participant and shoot from exterior at a excessive clip, he may see extra time this yr. It is perhaps out of the realm of chance to see Leal getting up and downhill at this level in his profession.
It’s additionally vital to notice that Leal has been coping with an damage. 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 keep watch over 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 Huge Ten match or Leal asking Race Thompson who has one of the best beard on the staff at media day.
Backside Line: Barring any accidents — Leal seemingly gained’t see a lot of a rise in minutes this season. However his position on the bench doesn’t go unnoticed. If he can present a spark of power when he does see the courtroom and proceed being a supportive teammate, it should go a great distance for his fellow Hoosiers on the courtroom. Protection and confidence had been the factors of emphasis for Leal over the summer time. If he can turn into a dependable 3-point shooter and compete on the defensive aspect, it’ll add some wholesome depth to Indiana’s bench this season.
Quotable: “You’ll have your stats and all these things you earn on the courtroom, however the place you actually impression individuals is what you do moreover that. So I attempt to set a superb instance, be an incredible pal, be an incredible particular person and by way of the best way I’m on the bench… I simply think about if I had been on the market enjoying I’d need my bench to assist me and cheer me on and assist 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 feel 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
