Two John Marshall High School seniors will continue their athletic careers at historically black universities.

Basketball guard Everett “Tre” Patterson has signed with Virginia Union University while Justices football star D.J. Cook has signed with Norfolk State University.

John Marshall basketball Coach Ty White describes the 6-foot-4 Patterson as “athletic, versatile, a great defender … a highlight reel.”

Patterson, who averaged about 10 points and four rebounds for the 18-5 Justices, transferred to John Marshall as a senior after playing as an underclassman at Armstrong High School.

New VUU Coach Jay Butler signed Tavon Mealy, a 6-foot-4 post player who starred at Armstrong High before spending the last two seasons at Richard Bland College, a two-year college in Petersburg.

Butler also has signed 6-foot-6, 260-pound Devin White out of Hagerstown Community College in Maryland, and 5-foot-9 guard KeAndre Gibson out of Baltimore’s Dunbar High School.

At NSU, new Spartans football Coach Latrell Scott has shown a liking to Richmond area talent.

The 6-foot-1 Cook, who played defensive back and wide receiver under John Marshall football Coach Redd Thompson, likely will be plugged into Coach Scott’s defense.

“D.J. is a tall, rangy defensive back,” said Coach Scott. “We like his athleticism and feel he’ll add quality depth.”

Cook earned All-Conference 26 honors last fall on defense and offense. He caught 30 passes for 875 yards and picked off four passes defensively.

Last weekend, Cook showed his speed and added to his résumé by winning the 100-meter (11.28) and 200-meter (22.78) dashes in a conference 26 meet in Petersburg.

Other local football players signing with NSU are:

Nigel Chavis (linebacker, Armstrong High School)

Quintrell Chung (running back, James River High School)

Jeff Lee (defensive end, Meadowbrook High School)

Raynard Revels (linebacker, Hermitage High School, transfer from Lackawanna Junior College)

Craig Rodwell (lineman, Varina High School)

Marcus Taylor (runnning back, Highland Springs High School)

Cornelius Tyler (defensive end, Meadowbrook High)

Gerard Johnson (running back, Meadowbrook High, transfer from Old Dominion University).