PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers men's basketball forward
Darren Buchanan Jr. has been named a recipient of the 2025 Musial Awards, one of the nation's most prestigious honors celebrating class, character, and integrity in sports.
Buchanan will be recognized on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at the Musial Awards at the historic Stifel Theatre in downtown St. Louis. The national event, produced by the National Sportsmanship Foundation and managed by the St. Louis Sports Commission, honors individuals across all levels of sport who exemplify kindness, selflessness, and respect for the game and others. The show will air nationally on CBS in December, produced by Al Roker Entertainment.
"Darren represents everything we value in our program — humility, toughness, and an unselfish commitment to others," said Rutgers head coach
Steve Pikiell. "He's a tremendous teammate and leader, and it's fitting that he's being honored on a national stage for the way he carries himself both on and off the court."
Buchanan, a Washington, D.C. native, has become known for his efforts to uplift his community through youth engagement and outreach. What began as a simple idea to host a basketball camp in June 2024 has grown into a year-round commitment to service.
"I first started with my basketball camp in June of 2024," Buchanan said. "We had about 50 to 60 kids, all ages, boys and girls. I started with that, and from there I just took off with it. That same summer, I participated in a back-to-school drive and distributed bags to the community back home in D.C. At Thanksgiving, we passed out meals to the homeless, along with hygiene items and other essentials. At Christmas, I picked two families in need of gifts, had them make a list, and me my team and I fulfilled it. It's become a part of my life — it makes me who I am and shows the kind of person I want to be."
Buchanan has also used his Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) opportunities to give back, donating a portion of his earnings to fund his community programs.
"NIL is a blessing," Buchanan continued. "A lot of people use it to take care of their families, which I do as well, but I feel like I've got to take care of the community that made me. Just giving back to those in need back home in D.C. was big for me. It was always a goal of mine when I was young to be in a position to give back. Once I started receiving NIL, I thought, why not? Everything is bigger than me."
The drive to give back, Buchanan said, comes from his upbringing and experiences in Washington, D.C.
"My childhood experiences made me want to start helping out the community," he said. "I know how tough it is for kids trying to make it out. I grew up in the same streets they're in. I've lost childhood friends, seen crime on a daily basis — I've lived it. I just want to show them that you can make something of yourself and create your own path. That's why I go back. You don't have to do X, Y, or Z — you can do it the right way."
For Buchanan, the Musial Award recognition is deeply personal.
"It's huge," he said. "I told my mom I never started doing this to win an award. I never did it for Instagram views or anything like that. I feel like it's my purpose from God to go out and do these things. Winning the Musial Award means a lot to me and my family. It's just the beginning — hopefully we'll take it much further in the future. I'm definitely excited and blessed to be recognized on a national scale."
Buchanan Jr. will accept the award remotely as the Scarlet Knights will be in Las Vegas for the Player's Era Tournament on Nov. 22
nd, Buchanan Jr.'s sister and mother will accept the award for him in person at the event.
Named for St. Louis Cardinals legend Stan Musial, the Musial Awards celebrate the year's greatest moments of sportsmanship and honor those who embody the values "Stan the Man" personified: dignity, excellence, generosity, and integrity. Past recipients include Larry Fitzgerald Jr., Albert Pujols, Cal Ripken Jr., Jackie Joyner-Kersee, and Ernie Johnson.
Since its national television debut in 2019, the Musial Awards broadcast has reached millions of viewers on CBS and earned numerous Emmy and Edward R. Murrow Awards for its inspiring storytelling.
