DME Academy at SJNA

Explore the brand new boys' and girls' basketball partnership between these two prestigious institutions, and "Ignite the Dream" today.

Connect with Us

Pathway to the Pros

New in 2023-24, DME at SJNA is your pathway to the pros, and the 2023 NBA Draft on June 22 held in Brooklyn, New York was a seminal night for the new partnership.

With two draft picks in quick succession, and the top-five pick of Keegan Murray in 2022, the partnership announced itself as a hub for top talent, and laid a clear pathway to the highest levels of the game for the next generation of DME at SJNA student-athletes

READ MORE...

Brandin Podziemski

SJNA '21 | Round 1 Pick 19 | Golden State Warriors

the Murray Twins - DME '20

Keegan | 2022 Round 1 Pick 4 | Sacramento Kings

Kris | 2023 Round 1 Pick 23 | Portland Trailblazers

What is DME at SJNA?

The DME Boy's & Girl's Basketball Program is one of the most elite programs in the United States. We compete with the best programs in the country, including the likes of IMG Academy & Montverde. With a proven balance of academic and athletic success, our students are stretching their limits each and every year. With an elite facility, NBA roots, and a track record of success, we help aspiring athletes fulfill their dreams.

Connect with Us

The Foundation for Success

Dan Panaggio

Dan Panaggio

Dan is the Co-Founder of DME Academy and head of all basketball operations. He has coached three NBA teams as well as a trio of the most prestigious NCAA Division I programs including Oklahoma, Indiana, and Marquette.

A student of the game, Dan was a standout player for a State University of New York at Brockport team to an NCAA Final Four berth as a sophomore. He is a member of their Hall of Fame and is still the leading scorer in school history.

Dan is the Co-Founder of DME Academy and head of all basketball operations. He has coached three NBA teams as well as a trio of the most prestigious NCAA Division I programs including Oklahoma, Indiana, and Marquette.

A student of the game, Dan was a standout player for a State University of New York at Brockport team to an NCAA Final Four berth as a sophomore. He is a member of their Hall of Fame and is still the leading scorer in school history.

Panaggio went on to a successful coaching career as well at all levels. He served as head coach of the Quad City Thunder for nine seasons, and owns a career record of 313-191, winning Continental Basketball Association championships in 1994 and 1998.

Dan was an assistant coach to Maurice Cheeks with the Portland Trailblazers from 2001 to 2005. Considered one of the top experts in the NBA game when it comes to the triangle offense made popular by Phil Jackson. He was brought on as an assistant in the Laker organization for four years and has two NBA Championship rings to show for his efforts there.

Dan was named the Chinese NBA coach of the year in 2012 as head coach of Yao Ming’s Shanghai Sharks. After four years, he went on as a special assistant with the Phoenix Sun’s organization.

Dan understands the game and has assembled a coaching staff that believes in DME Academy. A leader of boys & girls, Dan sets the tone for a DME Academy program that is already considered elite, but still growing!

Read More
Wesley Person

Wesley Person

Wesley’s incredible resume boasts 11 years as a player in the NBA spending his first year in the league with the Phoenix Suns, going 23rd overall in the 1994 NBA Draft.

When his playing career came to an end, Wesley transitioned into a coaching role, spending the last 20 plus years mentoring the next generation of athletes. Prior to joining DME in 2022, Persons was the head coach of the Greenville High School Tigers in Greenville, Alabama where he was named 2021 Coach of the Year.

Wesley’s incredible resume boasts 11 years as a player in the NBA spending his first year in the league with the Phoenix Suns, going 23rd overall in the 1994 NBA Draft. His accolades include leading the league in minutes played, three-pointers taken, and percentage made during the 1997-98 season and spending seven years of his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

When his playing career came to an end, Wesley transitioned into a coaching role, spending the last 20 plus years mentoring the next generation of athletes. Prior to joining DME in 2022, Persons was the head coach of the Greenville High School Tigers in Greenville, Alabama where he was named 2021 Coach of the Year.

Wesley’s passion for teaching basketball IQ and mentoring athletes has made him a successful and beloved coach. Being part of the lives of the kids who are members of his team is his way of giving back to a sport that gave so much to him.

Wesley’s coaching philosophy is simple: teach an athlete once and your job is done. When coaches give athletes the tools to be successful, it enables them to figure out how to adapt their playing style to what’s needed to succeed. It also guarantees they won’t make the same mistake twice.

Even with a history of winning on high-school, collegiate, and national stages, Wesley considers the ultimate win seeing his players be successful in life and being given the opportunity to choose where they want to take their careers next.

Wesley’s passion for teaching basketball IQ and mentoring athletes has made him a successful and beloved coach. Being part of the lives of the kids who are members of his team is his way of giving back to a sport that gave so much to him.

“I have a different coaching style for each athlete. As a coach, you have to identify the best practices of each player – how to communicate with them and what they need to improve on so you can help them take their skills to the next level,” says Wesley, “If athletes put in the work, it gives them a higher chance of advancing their career. I’m always looking ahead at how I can prepare them for whatever is next.”

Wesley’s coaching philosophy is simple: teach an athlete once and your job is done. When coaches give athletes the tools to be successful, it enables them to figure out how to adapt their playing style to what’s needed to succeed. It also guarantees they won’t make the same mistake twice.

Read More

The DME Difference

Committed Coaching

With decades of NBA experience, our hand selected staff is aggregated by legendary coach Dan Panaggio. With years of professional experience our team brings out the best in student-athletes as we continually compete with the best of the best.

Elite Training

Training every day with motivated athletes prepares us for the tough competition that we face on the court. We offer advanced strength and conditioning programs, an elite sports performance facility, mental training sessions & video technology to give an edge to our aspiring student- athletes.

Mindful Methodology

We believe that a positive & nurturing environment brings out the best in all athletes. Positive words have an encouraging impact on a person's confidence and are vital for healthy development. Our mindfulness methodology is engrained in our program.

Family Oriented

We recognize the importance of a strong work-life balance. The flexibility the DME Academy provides is unmatched. We take pride in how we work with our athlete's families regarding scheduling conflicts. Our commitment to training is unwavering yet flexible.

Take the next step
SJNA Mockups_Scholarship Logo

Make a Difference

The Joseph Bostic Memorial Scholarship Fund is a need-based financial-aid program designed to support student-athletes participating in the DME + SJNA basketball program, with the intent to elevate the program’s prominence and attract high level student-athletes who embody high standards of athletics, character, leadership, academic achievement, and leadership.

Learn More

Explore

The Campus

Want to see more of St. John’s Northwestern? Take a guided tour and meet some of our incredible faculty and staff as they walk you through our beautiful campus.

Learn More about DME Academy at SJNA

Ignite the Dream Today!