Anthony Leal and Trey Galloway are Hoosiers to the Core
10/25/2021 10:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Some guys bleed Cream 'n Crimson. They are Indiana Hoosiers to the core – even before they are Hoosiers. That matters when stakes are high, aspirations are higher and IU's title-winning tradition helps fuel championship-winning results.
"The vibe is really high," sophomore guard Anthony Leal says. "We're all excited to represent Indiana."
Here are Leal and fellow sophomore guard Trey Galloway, committed to the IU basketball cause for as long as they can remember.
In basically the last two years they faced down the adversity of a pandemic, a losing record, a coaching change and the uncertainty that, briefly, swirled throughout the program during last spring's head coaching search.
Even before Mike Woodson was hired, bringing with him an NBA background, a deep understanding of IU tradition and a commitment to build a family-oriented program, Galloway and Leal weren't going anywhere.
Both grew up in the state of Indiana and were well versed in Hoosier tradition. Leal was a standout on outstanding J.R. Holmes–coached teams at Bloomington High School South. Galloway was a standout at Culver Academies under his father, Mark, a former basketball player at Bethel (Indiana) College.
For both, pride in wearing the candy stripes runs deep.
"It doesn't put any extra pressure," Calloway says. "It's a great experience to be here every day.
"Coach Woodson came back to win banners. That's what we're all trying to do. We're not just working for ourselves, we're working for each other. We want everyone to succeed and win together. It gives us an extra boost. It keeps us prepared."
As soon as athletic director Scott Dolson announced a new coaching search had begun last March, Galloway and Leal publicly proclaimed their IU loyalty.
Even in an era of relentless transferring, leaving wasn't an option.
"I'm staying and I believe in IU basketball and I trust everything that is going to happen in the future," Galloway tweeted at the time.
Nothing has changed in the months that have followed.
"I trusted Scott Dolson," Galloway says. "I was behind him the whole time. He told me to hang tight and trust in the process. That's one thing I wanted to show to everyone. I wasn't going to leave no matter what."
Leal was just as committed. He tweeted that he was a, "Hoosier for life. Born and raised, and that's never going to change."
He reiterates that as the season approaches.
"I want everybody to know I'm here for the school and the program and for this jersey. No matter who the coaches are, who my teammates are, I'm here to win. I wanted to make sure everyone knew that. I wasn't considering going anywhere else, but wear this jersey.
The 6-4 Galloway made significant freshman impact last season, especially with his ability to attack the basket. He averaged 3.6 points and 1.9 rebounds, and led all Hoosier freshmen with 492 minutes played. He scored as many as 13 points, grabbed as many as six rebounds and totaled as many as five assists.
While a big point of emphasis is improving his three-point shooting (he was just 6-for-33 last season), Galloway goes beyond that.
"I stayed in the gym to try to get myself better. Just keep competing though the whole season. I think I improved everything."
At Culver, Galloway played on a state 3A title team in 2018 and a runner-up squad in 2019. A bid for a second state title ended with a 2020 sectional championship before the pandemic ended the season.
As a senior, he averaged 20.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 2.3 steals, and finished with a school-record 1,537 points.
Then there's the 6-5 Leal, the 2020 Indiana Mr. Basketball who averaged 18.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.2 steals as a senior. He scored a school-record 1,620 points, especially impressive given former Hoosier standout Jordan Hulls also played at South, and also won Indiana Mr. Basketball honors.
Last season at an IU freshman, Leal averaged 1.6 points and 1.4 rebounds in 20 games. He was 9-for-30 from beyond the arc.
He's a firm believer in Woodson's approach to improving his and the team's three-point shooting, in part because Woodson believes in him, and all the Hoosiers.
"Coach Woody is big on that (confidence)," Leal says. "At the same time, we're all confident if we make an extra pass or set someone else up for a shot, that they'll hit it.
"We're growing our confidence together, and I think it will translate well to the games."
Woodson's NBA-style system, which opens the floor on offense to maximize spacing and, ideally, good shooting, while attacking on defense, has Leal and Galloway pumped.
"With Coach Woodson's system," Galloway says, "everyone is touching the ball. We're moving and passing well. That's helped me a lot. Moving downhill and creating for others. That's one of the things I think I'm good at. That's helped me."
Adds Leal: "I'm excited about it. Shooting the ball, playing defense. I'm excited to showcase what I can do."
Woodson's guard-friendly attack will be led by point guards Xavier Johnson (a Pitt transfer), Rob Phinisee and Khristian Lander. Transfer Parker Stewart and freshman Tamar Bates will join Leal and Galloway in the off-guard role.
As Woodson puts it, "Guys have got to be ready to step up and shoot it when they're open."
As for the excitement building toward the Nov. 9 season opener against Eastern Michigan, Leal says, "Especially with having a new reset and a lot of buzz around the team, it's really positive around town," Leal says. "Fans and people are coming up for pictures or saying good luck."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Some guys bleed Cream 'n Crimson. They are Indiana Hoosiers to the core – even before they are Hoosiers. That matters when stakes are high, aspirations are higher and IU's title-winning tradition helps fuel championship-winning results.
"The vibe is really high," sophomore guard Anthony Leal says. "We're all excited to represent Indiana."
Here are Leal and fellow sophomore guard Trey Galloway, committed to the IU basketball cause for as long as they can remember.
In basically the last two years they faced down the adversity of a pandemic, a losing record, a coaching change and the uncertainty that, briefly, swirled throughout the program during last spring's head coaching search.
Even before Mike Woodson was hired, bringing with him an NBA background, a deep understanding of IU tradition and a commitment to build a family-oriented program, Galloway and Leal weren't going anywhere.
Both grew up in the state of Indiana and were well versed in Hoosier tradition. Leal was a standout on outstanding J.R. Holmes–coached teams at Bloomington High School South. Galloway was a standout at Culver Academies under his father, Mark, a former basketball player at Bethel (Indiana) College.
For both, pride in wearing the candy stripes runs deep.
"It doesn't put any extra pressure," Calloway says. "It's a great experience to be here every day.
"Coach Woodson came back to win banners. That's what we're all trying to do. We're not just working for ourselves, we're working for each other. We want everyone to succeed and win together. It gives us an extra boost. It keeps us prepared."
As soon as athletic director Scott Dolson announced a new coaching search had begun last March, Galloway and Leal publicly proclaimed their IU loyalty.
Even in an era of relentless transferring, leaving wasn't an option.
"I'm staying and I believe in IU basketball and I trust everything that is going to happen in the future," Galloway tweeted at the time.
Nothing has changed in the months that have followed.
"I trusted Scott Dolson," Galloway says. "I was behind him the whole time. He told me to hang tight and trust in the process. That's one thing I wanted to show to everyone. I wasn't going to leave no matter what."
Leal was just as committed. He tweeted that he was a, "Hoosier for life. Born and raised, and that's never going to change."
He reiterates that as the season approaches.
"I want everybody to know I'm here for the school and the program and for this jersey. No matter who the coaches are, who my teammates are, I'm here to win. I wanted to make sure everyone knew that. I wasn't considering going anywhere else, but wear this jersey.
The 6-4 Galloway made significant freshman impact last season, especially with his ability to attack the basket. He averaged 3.6 points and 1.9 rebounds, and led all Hoosier freshmen with 492 minutes played. He scored as many as 13 points, grabbed as many as six rebounds and totaled as many as five assists.
While a big point of emphasis is improving his three-point shooting (he was just 6-for-33 last season), Galloway goes beyond that.
"I stayed in the gym to try to get myself better. Just keep competing though the whole season. I think I improved everything."
At Culver, Galloway played on a state 3A title team in 2018 and a runner-up squad in 2019. A bid for a second state title ended with a 2020 sectional championship before the pandemic ended the season.
As a senior, he averaged 20.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 2.3 steals, and finished with a school-record 1,537 points.
Then there's the 6-5 Leal, the 2020 Indiana Mr. Basketball who averaged 18.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.2 steals as a senior. He scored a school-record 1,620 points, especially impressive given former Hoosier standout Jordan Hulls also played at South, and also won Indiana Mr. Basketball honors.
Last season at an IU freshman, Leal averaged 1.6 points and 1.4 rebounds in 20 games. He was 9-for-30 from beyond the arc.
He's a firm believer in Woodson's approach to improving his and the team's three-point shooting, in part because Woodson believes in him, and all the Hoosiers.
"Coach Woody is big on that (confidence)," Leal says. "At the same time, we're all confident if we make an extra pass or set someone else up for a shot, that they'll hit it.
"We're growing our confidence together, and I think it will translate well to the games."
Woodson's NBA-style system, which opens the floor on offense to maximize spacing and, ideally, good shooting, while attacking on defense, has Leal and Galloway pumped.
"With Coach Woodson's system," Galloway says, "everyone is touching the ball. We're moving and passing well. That's helped me a lot. Moving downhill and creating for others. That's one of the things I think I'm good at. That's helped me."
Adds Leal: "I'm excited about it. Shooting the ball, playing defense. I'm excited to showcase what I can do."
Woodson's guard-friendly attack will be led by point guards Xavier Johnson (a Pitt transfer), Rob Phinisee and Khristian Lander. Transfer Parker Stewart and freshman Tamar Bates will join Leal and Galloway in the off-guard role.
As Woodson puts it, "Guys have got to be ready to step up and shoot it when they're open."
As for the excitement building toward the Nov. 9 season opener against Eastern Michigan, Leal says, "Especially with having a new reset and a lot of buzz around the team, it's really positive around town," Leal says. "Fans and people are coming up for pictures or saying good luck."
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