Paige Bueckers drops 3-word reaction to JMU legend Darren McLinton’s induction to Hall of Fame

Paige Bueckers shared her thoughts on former James Madison guard Darren McLinton's induction into the JMU Athletics Hall of Fame. The UConn guard shared the announcement post from the Dukes' Instagram account to her story on Friday and wrote:

"I like lunch™ (Darren McLinton)."

Paige's story about Darren McLinton (Credits: Instagram/@paigebueckers)

Darren McLinton played four years at James Madison from 1992 to 1996. He averaged 13.0 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists. The guard's best year came as a senior when he averaged 22.7 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists. McLinton went undrafted in 1996 and later played in international leagues in Germany and in the Euroleague.

Currently, Darren McLinton is involved in training at his McLinton Basketball Academy in Maryland. Paige Bueckers has trained with him at his academy, which she posted about in August 2024.

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Paige Bueckers enjoys an incredible night against Villanova

During her previous matchup against Villanova on Jan. 5, Paige Bueckers exited the game early after injuring her knee. She was sidelined for a week and returned to play against St. John's on Jan. 15.

On Wednesday, the UConn Huskies played against the Wildcats again. Bueckers finished with 21 points, eight rebounds, nine assists and three steals as her team won 100-57.

Paige Bueckers is playing her final college season with the Huskies and is set to lead them to their first national championship since 2016. The guard achieved a huge career milestone on Sunday against Seton Hall, crossing the 2000-points mark. She's the fastest UConn player to achieve it, doing in 102 games.

Bueckers' run with the Huskies hasn't been easy as she struggled with back-to-back injuries. UConn coach Geno Auriemma was asked about his star guard's latest achievement in the postgame press conference, to which he responded:

"I think the points signify something. Obviously, they mean a lot. To be able to put that many points on the board in that short period of time is one tremendous accomplishment. To be able to do it in spite of the ups and downs, missing an entire season and a third of another season.

"To stay mentally locked in, to stay positive and to still be committed to putting the work in. There’s a lot that goes into being able to be out there and make the shots that she makes given what she’s been through."

Up next, UConn will travel to Omaha, Nebraska, for their game against Creighton on Saturday.