Whether in the crucial moments of a close game or in an empty gym before dawn at the Charles E. Smith Center, there’s almost always a basketball in Darren Buchanan Jr.’s hands. The electrifying and high-flying forward on George Washington University men’s hoops team is addicted to the game, and with a lot riding on his shoulders this season as the team’s leading returning scorer, Buchanan Jr. is putting in the work to leave nothing to chance this winter.
All summer, he arrived at the gym before the sun rose and left well after it set, sometimes needing to turn the lights out when he exited the Smith Center just before bedtime.
But now, there’s a new wrinkle to his routine. Every day before and after practice, Buchanan Jr. emerges from his residence not with a basketball in his hand but rather an off-white dog leash. On the other end of it is Simba, his now five-month-old pit-bull terrier puppy who is still all limbs flailing about as he eagerly navigates the world around him—at least where his human leads him.
“I love walking him, and he’s getting better at training,” said Buchanan Jr., who is a redshirt sophomore for the Revolutionaries. “He’s definitely taught me about responsibility, and he’s taught me a lot in just a short time.
“It's amazing to see his development; he recognizes his name now.”
As Simba learns his own name—and becomes a campus icon during his frequent walks, the college basketball world is continuing to learn of his owner’s—who may just be one of the most interesting players in the entire country.
Buchanan Jr., known as “Jun” to most, was named to the Atlantic-10 Conference’s All-Rookie team a season ago after averaging more than 16 points per game during his first year in the Buff and Blue after transferring from Virginia Tech. A D.C. native who was named The Washington Post’s All-Metro player of the year during his senior season at Jackson-Reed High School, Buchanan Jr. relishes his role as a leader on this year’s Revolutionaries squad despite it being just his second year in the program.
The points he scores in games, many of the hardworking kind as he has a knack for using his strength and quickness to drive to the basket, are a byproduct of the work he puts in when nobody is in the bleachers watching. He works out three times a day while putting up thousands of shots. He gets after it in the weight room, tossing around 55-pound dumbbells the way the rest of us would move around pillows.
Buchanan Jr., who was tabbed a preseason second-team All-Atlantic 10 performer during the league’s media days in October, is a marquee face of a program looking to break through in coach Chris Caputo’s third full year at the helm. He embraces taking on more of a leadership role, starting with leading by example on the court and in the weight room.
“I know my teammates look to me for guidance,” he says. “I want to step up and help lead this year, especially since I had a solid performance last year. It's been a process, but I'm enjoying it.”
He does it all with genuine joy on his face, and it’s hard not to feel energized around him. When the team is in a grueling, 30-minute weight room session before practice, he’s dancing to the music in between sets. He’s also the one to give the last word to his teammates both before and after a training session.
“He's a big energy giver, probably one of the nicest, most genuine guys I've ever met,” said sophomore teammate Trey Autry, who lives with Buchanan Jr.—as well as Simba. “He's always got a smile on his face and tries to cheer everyone up, even when he’s feeling down. You might not even know it, but he's always working to lift others. He’s got this contagious energy, and you love having him around. Everything you think of when you imagine someone who’s always joyful—he embodies all of that.”
Despite his imposing physical presence—6 feet 7 inches, 235 pounds of pure muscle and an ability to tenaciously jump out of the gymnasium, Buchanan Jr. fully embraces his soft side.
His face lights up talking about a beginning acting class with Assistant Professor of Theatre Sidney Williams— “Shout out to Sid, man, what a GOAT,” Buchanan Jr. said, referencing the widely used “greatest of all time” acronym. His roommates say he’s a pretty good singer, even if he wouldn’t admit it. And, of course, the sociology major is now a proud dog dad to Simba.
But make no mistake. His first love is basketball. Well, that and his family. And maybe his city. His first basketball memory goes back to when he was about 5. He was too young to play, but his older brother by three years played on a team, and little Buchanan Jr. would go to every game, suit up in his jersey, and run up and down the sidelines. Eventually, they would make a team for kids his age because they knew how enthusiastic he was about the sport.
While his mother didn’t like him dribbling in the house, Buchanan Jr. and his friends and family would traverse to the backyard or nearby alley to play outside. And when he was 12 years old, after months of wearing ankle weights and doing calf raises to accelerate the process, Buchanan Jr. recorded his first dunk at the Emory Rec Center in Northwest D.C.
“When I dunked, I looked at my dad, who was going crazy; it was a huge moment for me,” he said with a smile he just couldn’t help but show.
The game has given so much to him, and it’s extra meaningful to be leading a Division 1 team in the city where he fell in love with the sport as the people who helped spark that passion can come to every game.
“It feels like a dream come true. In my first game last year, running out and seeing my family in the stands was surreal,” Buchanan Jr. said. “I hope it inspires kids from the area, showing them that you can succeed while staying home.”
Giving back is important to him, and Buchanan Jr. has used some of the NIL (name, image, likeness) money he has earned at GW to host free basketball camps for D.C. kids. He has also organized a back-to-school giveaway, providing food, entertainment and book bags to local youth. He distributed meals to the unhoused on Thanksgiving weekend, and he hopes to host a community game night for Christmas.
“I think it's very rare to find someone as young as Darren who is so thoughtful about his community and giving back,” Caputo said. “He’s certainly drawn a lot of attention with his performance on the court, but it seems like he genuinely wants to use that platform to help others, which is very unique."
Buchanan Jr.’s goal, he said, is to be great in everything he pursues, whether it’s on the court or off it. At age 20, he’s well on his way.
