Renowned international coaches Wesam Al Sous, Thales Peterson, and Jarvis Gunter, from DME Academy USA, left the community abuzz with excitement, ACS International School Doha said in a statement Tuesday.
The coaches, accompanied by Ignacio Rodriguez, an international recruiter at DME Academy, not only shared their strategies at a press conference but also personal stories, challenges, and triumphs that propelled them to become sports luminaries.
Al Sous narrated the journey leading to Jordan's historic place at the recent FIBA World Cup, Peterson divulged untold stories behind FC Golden State's victories, and Gunter traced his remarkable path from an NBA G-League player to a DME head coach.
The event also showcased the collaboration with Qatar-based sports training programme BE Sports, founded by Ben Smith and Eric Gardow.
The primary objective of this collaboration between BE Sports (Doha) and DME (USA) is to provide aspiring student-athletes in Doha with opportunities for exposure and pathways to play and study on an international level.
This includes possibilities for college sports scholarships.
Over the past six years, three student-athletes sent from Doha and BE Sport have transferred to the DME facility, have graduated through their system, and now play professionally worldwide.
DME Academy, established by former LA Lakers assistant coach Dan Panaggio and his brother Mike, stands as more than an educational institution; it is a family-orientated organisation committed to tailoring to each student-athlete's unique needs.
Emphasising this familial ethos, Dan Panaggio stated: "At DME, you're not just an athlete or a student; you're a member of our family."
Main sponsor W Hotel hosted the coaches. The partnership between W Hotel and the DME Academy underscores the collective effort to elevate sports education and foster a thriving community of athletes in Qatar.
As a testament to the success of this collaboration, this event will now become an annual tradition organised by BE Sports.
Details for next year's event, along with registration information, will be released shortly, the statement added.
