The Chase Is On: Nationally Ranked and Ready For More

In sports, nothing is given but rather is earned. This statement could not be any truer for the DME Academy Boy’s High School Basketball program as they are ranked 20th in the country; cracking into the national rankings released by MaxPreps on November 23rd.

The celebrated entrance into the National rankings came by upsetting the highly-praised preseason favorite, Legacy Early College, on the road, with a dominant performance by senior guard, Niccolo Moretti, who had 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists. Milan Skoric also put on a show with 17 points. This dynamic duo led the way for DME as they capitalized on in-game adjustments, such as moving from man to zone on defense, to grab the win with a final score of 71 to 67; advancing with an impressive record of 6-1.

With the season in the very early stages, there is no reason to pump the brakes on this red-hot team as they have a top-tier roster, an experienced coaching staff, and are here to stay for the long haul. 

“I love what this team is doing! They’re demonstrating hard work on and off the court. A truly dedicated group that plays selfless ball” commented DME Academy Co-Founder Dan Panaggio. 

Moments after securing the upset win, the ecstatic head coach, Matt Panaggio, noted the difference in the game was DME’s defense holding Legacy Early College to 37% shooting from the floor, with the pick-n-roll working well to contain the opposing offense. With a strong, fundamentally sound performance from the team, opposing coaches and student-athletes around the league should have them at the top of their radar; this team’s confidence is at an all-time high with no signs of wavering. 

It comes as no surprise that this team is thriving as the DME Academy’s Boy’s National Basketball program has a core foundation of the community with a culture of belief; igniting the shared dream of being the best for each other. Whether in the classroom or on the court, this team competes for each other and has a bond that cannot be broken. This deeply rooted environment was developed by DME Academy Co-founder, Dan Panaggio, whose reputation runs strongly throughout the NBA. Dan served on the coaching staff of the Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Lakers and is currently mentoring DME Academy student-athletes.

Being ranked as the 20th Best Boy’s High School team in the country speaks for itself.

But the chase is on to earn the top spot in America.

Learn more about DME’s Boys’ basketball programs in Daytona Beach, Florida here.