'The best role model ever': IU basketball player uses NIL money to pay sister's student debt

Indiana basketball junior Anthony Leal is benefitting from name, image and likeness payments, and he's paying it forward.

The 2020 IndyStar Mr. Basketball surprised his sister, Lauren, on Christmas by erasing her college debt. She played basketball at DePauw University in Greencastle.

Lauren Leal read from a card from Anthony:

"You're a spark of goodness brought into the world. You radiate kindness and bring happiness to so many people, especially me. ...

"I wanted to know how much I look up to you and admire you. Your soul is beautiful and you are the best role model ever. There is no doubt that I made it to where I am today because of you. Someone like you deserves no burdens or restrictions in life."

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Lauren stopped for a moment, then said: "I don't even know how much that is."

"It's zero now," Anthony said.

Lauren, a 2018 Bloomington South graduate, played on Anthony’s Bloomington Blaze travel teams at a young age. Lauren battled back from multiple knee surgeries to keep playing basketball. He wears the No. 3 jersey because of Lauren.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana basketball player uses NIL money to pay sister's student debt