DME Academy boys basketball student-athletes, Moustapha Thiam and Elijah Duval, have both earned spots on the prestigious ESPN Top 100 ranking list.
Moustapha Thiam, the 7’0” 200lb center for DME, earned the 51st spot on the list of 2025 recruits. Thiam’s impressive size, combined with his basketball IQ, make him an easy target down low and a scoring machine. Despite his age, he’s already a leader on the court and receiving offers from colleges who want him to be a part of their team.
Occupying the 76th spot on the 2024 list is Elijah Duval, a 6’2″ point guard for DME. He recently reclassified as a 2025 and transferred to DME, where he’ll have the opportunity to develop under an elite coaching staff, and showcase his talents against the top teams in the nation. Duval is a four-star, nationally-ranked playmaker with incredible court vision, who’s expected to do great things in Daytona.
If you dream of becoming an ESPN Top 100 caliber player like Thiam and Duval, check out DME Academy’s boys basketball program.
DME Academy HS National pulled off a thrilling win against IMG Academy, who was ranked Number 6 in the entire country, in a game that came down to the wire. It was an exciting and intense competition, with both teams fighting hard. DME Academy came out on top thanks to a heroic, last-second buzzer-beater 3-point shot.
The crowd was on the edge of their seats as the clock ticked down to the final seconds of the game. IMG Academy had possession of the ball and looked to be in control, but DME Academy’s defense was relentless, forcing a crucial turnover. With just seconds left, DME Academy’s star player, Petras Padegimas received a hail mary pass from Alvaro Folgueiras and nailed a fadeaway 3-pointer that went into the basket right as the buzzer sang. The final score of the game was 47-44 in favor of DME. Baraka Okojie also scored 18 points for DME.
The win was a huge confidence boost for DME Academy and demonstrated the team’s determination and never-say-die attitude. The players celebrated the victory on the court, embracing and congratulating each other on a job well done. The party didn’t stop there, as the squad yelled and danced in the locker room as well.
For IMG Academy, the loss was a tough pill to swallow. Yet the team can take solace in the fact that they fought until the end and gave it their all. Regardless of the outcome, both teams put on a show for the fans and left it all on the court.
Interested in learning more about DME Academy’s growing basketball program? Check it out here.
DME’s High School National basketball team is beginning to see all of its hard work on the court pay off. For the first time in the program’s history, DME Academy has broken onto the scene and has become nationally ranked. Capitalizing on a pair of losses from Winston-Salem Christian and Huntington Prep, DME has claimed the No. 10 spot per MaxPreps.
The team sits behind Montverde, IMG, Link Academy, Prolific Prep, AZ Compass Prep, Sunrise Christian Academy, Wasatch Academy, La Lumiere, and St. Benedict’s Prep.
Led by head coach and DME director of basketball, Matt Panaggio, the High School National team’s current record is 11-4. Showing no mercy to their opponents, the team has amassed point differentials as high as 65 points, proving they are fierce competitors. Even in defeat, the team has only lost by 10 points.
“This year’s team is special,” said Panaggio. “Our team is very competitive and hungry to win. When they play together it’s a tough team to beat because of the natural chemistry they show towards one another.”
Each year, the DME basketball program gets stronger and stronger. That’s due to the recruitment of incredible athletes. With standout talents like Baraka Okojie, Alvaro Folguerias, Joseph Katsman, Nigle Cook, Robert Lizalek, Lauchlan Mark, Maor Nekrashevich, Petras Padegimas (who just committed to The University of Central Florida), and Yan Ryazantsev, it’s no wonder this team is making a name on the National stage.
With its recent recognition nationally, DME now has plenty to prove among top teams in the country. The remainder of the season will serve as an opportunity to continue climbing the rankings.
Get to know more about the HS National players here!
The 5th Annual Beach & Ball Classic, powered by Halifax Health, wrapped up on Sunday evening after an exciting five days of action with over 73 games spanning the tournament. DME Academy hosted more than 50 teams, from as close as Orlando, to as far away as Rome and Canada.
Each game featured a match-up between two top-talent teams and the most valuable player was named at the end of each game. Over 70 players took home a unique medal to recognize their achievements on the court.
At the end of the tournament, athletes who exhibited outstanding talent were given the honor of being named to the Classic All-Tournament Teams.
Thank you to all the players and coaches who made this tournament a success. DME Academy is looking forward to an even bigger turnout at the next Beach & Ball Classic!
Check out the list of athletes named to the Classic All-Tournament Teams.
1st Team
2nd Team
3rd Team
Honorable Mention
Regional Division
For more information on the DME Academy boy’s basketball program and how you can be recruited or attend a camp, click here.
Now that the Thanksgiving turkey has been consumed and the table is all cleaned up, the most wonderful time of year is upon us. The holiday season gives us so much to look forward to and at DME Academy we have yet another reason to be cheerful. For the last five years, DME Academy has been putting on one of the biggest basketball tournaments in Florida each December.
Since the tournament’s origin, the DME Academy Beach and Ball Tournament has grown exponentially. This year more than 50 teams from all across the United States will travel to the “most famous beach” Daytona Beach in the World for an intense five days of action.
This year is also special because, for the first time, Halifax Health will be the main sponsor of the event. As the official healthcare provider for DME Academy, Halifax Health will make sure that all athletes attending the event are safe to compete and have the care they need during competition. Halifax has been caring for Volusia and Flagler County residents since 1928. Their mission is to be the community healthcare leader through exceptional talent and superior patient-centered service delivered in a financially sustainable manner.
The tournament starts tomorrow, December 7th, and will come to a close on Sunday, December 11th. Over the course of the five days, more than 70 games will be played at DME Academy’s Field House. The event will host some of the best high school basketball players in the country and is expected to gain attention from scouts nationwide.
It is hard to choose, but we have narrowed the 70 games down to 10 marquee matchups to watch for:
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
The most valuable player of each game will also be going home with some hardware. The team at DME put together unique medals for each player receiving the honor. More than 70 MVP medals will be awarded with shoutouts on Twitter and Instagram!
Be sure to follow us on Twitter: @DMESportsAcad, and on Instagram: @DMESportsAcademy to stay up to date on all of the action during the tournament!
It’s the 5 a.m. wake-ups, the lack of spring and summer break, the time spent recovering, the dedication, and hard work. That’s what separates good athletes from great athletes.
Five DME Academy basketball players put pen to paper and signed with their dream schools. This was the ultimate achievement and symbolized the payoff of the commitment and passion they have given to the sport.
Three incredible athletes from our girl’s basketball teams signed with their dream schools. Hannah Miller, a Girls High School Prep team member, signed with Pitt State. Dominika Paurová and Tessa Engelman, members of the Girls High School National team, signed with Minnesota and South Carolina State, respectively.
Two members of our boy’s basketball teams also joined their dream schools. Petras Padegimas, a member of the Boys High School National team, signed with the University of Central Florida, and Alex Doyle, a member of the Post-Grad National/Blue basketball team, signed with Stetson University.
When asked about his experience at DME, Doyle said, “DME helped provide me with the opportunity to receive multiple scholarships. I’m especially thankful to my coaches, and I am extremely excited to make an impact in college at Stetson.”
At DME Academy, we are passionate about seeing our athletes succeed in the classroom and on the court. They make sacrifices daily to be the greatest at their sport and we are grateful we get to be a small part of their journey as they take their talent to the next level.
Congratulations to these five athletes on this incredible honor. Thank you for all you have given to DME Academy. We are excited to cheer you on as you take the next step in your career.
Do you want to take your talent to the next level? Learn more about our sports programs and how you can join DME Academy here.