Ignacio Rodriguez, International Recruiter for DME Academy, recently embarked on a remarkable journey that took him to the bustling city of Manila, Philippines. There, he took on the role of Assistant Coach and Scouting Analyst for the Jordanian National Team, participating in the prestigious 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. This extraordinary opportunity not only highlighted Rodriguez’s expertise but also underscored the far-reaching impact of his coaching journey from DME Academy.

The 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, which commenced on August 25 and is set to conclude on September 10, has brought together basketball enthusiasts from all over the world. And for DME Academy, it marked yet another opportunity to showcase the quality of coaching and talent development that takes place within its walls.

Rodriguez has played an instrumental role in nurturing basketball talent over the years.

Before his role with the Jordanian National Team, he was deeply involved with DME’s Post-Graduate Men’s Basketball team during the 2019-2020 season. Working alongside the former longtime DME Academy coach, Wesam Al-Sous, who is now the head coach of Jordan’s Men’s Basketball team, Rodriguez helped mold young athletes into formidable players. Notably, this period included the coaching of Kris and Keegan Murray, who have since made their mark in the NBA.

At this year’s World Cup, Rodriguez and Al-Sous reunited to guide the Jordanian National Team. The team faced formidable opponents, including Greece, Mexico, USA, Egypt, and New Zealand. This international stage allowed Rodriguez to further showcase his coaching prowess, all while carrying the values and lessons learned from DME Academy.

Rodriguez, reflecting on his time at DME Academy, expressed his gratitude and admiration for the institution’s dedication to player development. “Working with Wesam at DME was an amazing experience for me,” he said. “I was new to the high school and post-grad level, and I saw the attention to detail and care for the players’ development and well-being firsthand.

The 2019-2020 season was the first year DME was invited to the National Championship, and it couldn’t have been a better start for me. Once Wesam offered me the chance to work alongside him for the Jordanian National Team, I wanted to make sure that it would be something I could combine with DME. My passion has always been to help international student-athletes follow their dreams and get to the US to develop as athletes, students, and people, just like I did when I was younger.”

The impact of DME Academy, its coaches, and its alumni continue to resonate throughout the basketball world. Rodriguez demonstrated how a passion for basketball and a commitment to nurturing talent can take an individual from the halls of a respected academy to the global stage.

To learn more about DME’s impressive basketball development school, click here.