Indiana's Anthony Leal, Sister Lauren Featured on CBS Evening News

Indiana basketball player Anthony Leal became something of a national hero on Christmas Day after he thrilled his older sister Lauren by paying off all of her student loans for her gift. The video went viral, and the pair was featured in a story on the CBS Evening News on Monday night. Here's the video.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana basketball player Anthony Leal made his sister's day on Christmas morning. 

His older sister, Lauren, who just graduated from Indiana in December, was stunned in reading his card to her when he said he was paying off all of her students loans from money he earned thanks to new name, image and likeness legistlation that benefits college athletes.

The video of their morning and the story that followed went viral, with several million watching it. And on Monday night, the two Leals got a lot of national attention when they were featured in a story on the CBS Evening News. To watch the Christmas video, CLICK HERE

The pair was interviewed on a video call, and answered questions from CBS News reporter Jericka Duncan during the 1-minute, 40-second story.

"I had tears in my eyes, and then it felt just like a weight lifted from my shoulders thinking about all the possibilities, and all the doors opening,'' Lauren Leal said during the interview. "Doing good things for other people, it makes that person want to do something good too, like pay it forward.''

Anthony, who grew up playing basketball in Bloomington with his older sister, who played collegiately at DePauw before knee injuries ended her career, said he was happy to use his NIL money for such a good cause, saying it was a ''good chunk of money.''

"You've got to look at it from multiple perspectives and we're just trying to make the most of the opportunities we have. I'm not sure how specific I want to get, but it was a good chunk of money.''

A 21-year-old Indiana University student athlete paid it forward by using money from his NIL, otherwise known as name, image, and likeness, to surprise his big sister with paying off all her student loans. pic.twitter.com/iptMAI9Ocx

— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) January 3, 2023

Related stories on Indiana basketball

• LEAL CHRISTMAS VIDEO: Indiana basketball player Anthony Leal and his teammates have all benefited from the new NIL opportunities afforded to college basketball players. Leal did something special with his money on Christmas morning, His gift to his older sister Lauren — his dearest friend and basketball idol — was to pay off her student loans with his NIL money. CLICK HERE
• NEXT GENERATION PROFILE: Anthony Leal understands the pressure of being kid who stays home to play college basketball. The Bloomington South star can't wait to get to Indiana, but there is unfinished business first. CLICK HERE