Darren “Jun” Buchanan, Jr.
As a youngster, Darren Buchanan Jr. had two hoop dreams: playing in the NBA and hosting his own basketball camp. At the time, the two seemed intertwined.
“When I went to a camp in seventh grade,” he says, “I told my mom that one day I’d have my own. “
But, why wait? Darren’s decision to use the bulk of his money from Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) endorsements to host a camp and other events before turning pro turned heads, including here at the Musial Awards.
“I think this story matters because I’m so young,” says Darren, 20, known to many as “Jun.” “And, it’s rare to see someone in D.C. give back to the community. Once they leave, they can’t or don’t come back.”
Darren was the Washington, D.C., player of the year as a senior at Jackson-Reed High School in 2022. But like many, he left the area to continue playing basketball. In his case, it was at Virginia Tech. After sitting out a year as a redshirt, though, he came home, transferring to George Washington (GW) University. Darren decided to host a homecoming, enlisting his parents, Darren and Tiffany, to inspire and aid his call to action.
“My mom and my dad did a good job teaching that what you put out is what you get back,” Darren says. “Once I was on the stage, I wasted no time.”
He started before his sophomore season, hosting a basketball camp near GW. But he didn’t stop there. With his family’s help and his ties to the community, he added the following:
- Organizing a back-to-school drive, giving away 120 book bags filled with school supplies. He also provided free haircuts, hair braiding and nails, a moon bounce, ice cream machine and, of course, a basketball court.
- Serving meals to the homeless at Thanksgiving.
- Serving as secret Santa for D.C. families, buying all the presents on their lists.
“It was easy to coordinate events and know that my family was there to help with everything,” Darren says of the events he has branded Leg3ndary Experiences. “Being in DC, where it all started for me, made it more impactful.”
Over two seasons, Darren averaged 13.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.1 steals before transferring in May to Rutgers. Though he spent much of the summer preparing with his new teammates in New Jersey, Darren returned to D.C. to host his second basketball camp in July and another Back to School Kickoff in August, with more haircuts and even more backpacks.
He also started to make a mark in the New Jersey area at Rutgers’ camp, helping elite players, high schoolers and youngsters. “We were just having fun with the kids, playing basketball,” he says, adding that he hopes to expand Leg3ndary Experiences in his new hometown. He’d also like to expand the mission beyond himself and basketball.
“I encourage all my friends and teammates, even my friends who don’t play basketball back home, to get up and do something for the community,” he says. “I believe God gave all of us a purpose, and it’s our job to fulfill our purpose. There’s a lot of changes to be made in the world. We can’t all change the big stuff, but we can find the small stuff in our community.”