Virginia Union University 6’5” guard DJ Mitchell has been selected to play in the HBCU All-Star Dream Classic, set for Saturday, Aug. 9, at Rucker Park in Harlem, N.Y.

  

Mitchell, a senior from Catonsville, Md., led the Panthers in scoring during the 2024-25 season with a 13.2 points-per-game average. He also topped the team in 3-pointers, connecting on 56 shots from beyond the arc.

“I’m really happy for DJ,” said VUU Men’s Basketball Coach Jay Butler. “He was our leading scorer and one of the best players in the CIAA this year. I know he will represent the program and the conference very well in New York.”

Mitchell will be one of 40 standout athletes representing HBCUs from across the CIAA, MEAC, SIAC, SWAC, Gulf Coast Athletic Conference, NAIA, and independent programs. The event will merge the tradition and excellence of HBCU athletics with the energy and history of urban streetball culture.

Rucker Park, often referred to as the Mecca of streetball, has long been a proving ground for basketball talent. Located in Harlem, the park gained fame in the 1950s and ’60s for its summer leagues, where NBA legends such as Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Julius Erving and later Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant showcased their skills alongside local streetball icons. Playing there is seen as a rite of passage for many aspiring basketball stars. Admission is free and tickets can be reserved at eventbrite.com