DME

Matt was born and raised locally and started his basketball career at Father Lopez High School. After High School, Matt decided to do a post-graduate year at Worcester Academy to develop his game in order to play college basketball. He began his collegiate career at Mercer University where he was a member of the 2014 ASUN Championship team that later went on to beat Duke University in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

After two seasons with the Bears, he transferred to Henderson State University where he finished his basketball career and graduated with a Business Degree. Matt was a two-year captain and leader for the Reddies. Matt is an integral part of our coaching staff. Matt is the head coach of the DME National team.

Matt is the grandson of legendary head coach Mauro Panaggio and nephew of former NBA and collegiate coach Dan Panaggio.

DME Academy welcomes one of the NBA’s best all time 3-point shooters Coach Wes Person. Wes will coach the DME Regional Team and also do double duty as DME’s head shooting coach. Wes has proven to be one of the hardest working coaches at DME Academy. He knows the game and played at the highest level. 

Person, who was a four-year starter at Auburn from 1990-94, he is the Tigers all-time leader in 3-pointers made (262) and 3-point field goal percentage (.441, 262-of-594). The Brantley, Ala., native was named an honorable mention All-American by the Associated Press and U.S. Basketball Writers Association as a senior in 1994 after leading the SEC averaging 22.2 points per game.

All-American Wesley Person was named as one of college basketball’s all-time top 10 shooters by Rivals.com 

Wes was a three-time All-SEC selection, earning first-team honors in 1993 and 1994 and third-team honors in 1992. Person, who had his No. 11 Auburn jersey retired on Feb. 18, 2006, is still third on Auburn's all-time scoring chart with 2,066 points and is fourth in all-time scoring average (19.1) and field goals made (772).

Person scored a career-high 44 points vs. UAB in 1993. His most memorable shot came when he nailed a 3-pointer from the left corner with two seconds left to give Auburn an 81-80 come-from-behind victory over 13th-ranked Arkansas on Mar. 6, 1993. The Tigers trailed by 15 points with 7:57 left and following Person's game-winner, Auburn fans stormed the court for the first time in school history.

An NBA first round pick by the Phoenix Suns in 1994, Person played 13 NBA seasons with the Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, Memphis Grizzlies, Portland Trail Blazers, Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat and Denver Nuggets. He won the Baby Ruth 3-Point Shooting Contest by defeating his brother, Chuck, at the 1995 NBA All-Star Game.

High School Honors. McDonald’s All -American 1990, All Time Leading Scorer 1990, Brantley High School Jersey Retired 2004, Brantley High School.

College Honors: 
USA Jr. World Champion 1991, Jersey Retired, Auburn University 2006, SEC Legend 2008, Auburn University Hall of Fame 2010.

Professional Honors:
NBA All- Rookie Team, 1994- 2007; Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, Memphis Grizzlies, Portland Trailblazers, Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat, Denver Nuggets.

Coaching experience:
Enterprise State Head Men’s Basketball, Troy  University; Assistant Women’s, NBA Assistant Coach Program G-League 

Coaching Honor:
Creenville High School Coach of the year 2022

Family:
Kesha Person, Wife
Children: Nykeia Person, WesleyPerson, Aleyah Person, Westley Person, Kelsey Person, Chelsey Person. 

Hocine is a former 14 year FIBA International professional basketball player who brings an aggressive Intercontinental approach to the DME Academy coaching staff. Gaham was born in Algeria in 1986 and has basketball and coaching in his blood. His greatest desire is to aid players in the transition from their home country to the United States which can be very challenging for young players at times. His unique approach along with basketball knowledge and work ethic is the one of the main reasons we've brought him on board at DME.

Michael Panaggio is a Daytona Beach native whose basketball career has taken him all around the world. He excelled at Lander University, where he was named to the All-Conference Peach Belt team after holding top ten rankings in scoring, assists, minutes played, assists-turnover ratio, free throw percentage, and three-point percentage. After graduating from college, Michael began his professional basketball career which has brought him to Italy, Latvia, Spain, and Argentina. In addition to playing pro ball, Michael has spent the last few years bolstering his coaching resume. He developed the DME Academy travel programs, was named the SIAA Coach of the Year in back-to-back seasons, placed over 15 student-athletes to the Division I level, and even spent time coaching the Division I FIU Golden Panthers. 

Jason Janda is back for year two at DME Academy. During his first year as an intern, Jason provided back up to several of our DME Academy teams. Due to his passion for excellence, our Executive staff took notice of his abilities and offered him a head coaching position. Jason attended and graduated from Division 1 Akron University in Ohio. Jason had a great High School career at Chardon High School in Ohio where he was a 3-year letterman.

Janda is a young aspiring coach with previous experience with IHI Basketball and a year overseas at 5 Star Sports Academy in China. DME Academy presents Janda with the opportunity to expand on his coaching skills and development as he advances his career.

Jason's love for the game caught fire at Akron. He decided at that time to pursue college coaching as a career. DME Academy student-athletes and staff are very glad that he made that choice.

Lester comes to DME Academy from Casper College, where his role as assistant basketball coach was focused on implementing training programs, developing scouting reports and recruiting top-level talent. 

During his time at the junior college and NCAA Division-I levels, Lester proved his coaching and recruiting abilities, as well as his aptitude to push talent to the next level. His career highlights include:

• In two seasons with the College of Southern Idaho, Lester advanced 14 players to the NCAA Division-I level.
• Recruited and coached nine All-Region players, four All-Americans, and two Players of the Year at the junior college level. 
• Forged strong recruiting relationships ranging from the Pacific Northwest through the Midwest, as well as California, Arizona, Florida and more. 
• Developed expertise in recruiting software including Synergy, HUDL, Crossover, FastDraw, FastScout, and more. 
• Led Sho-Ban High School to a 24-0 record from 2011 through 2013, earning Idaho District 5 Coach of the Year honors.

A native of Macon, Georgia, Kioki has played soccer collegiately and professionally at numerous levels. In high school, he was named the Middle Georgia soccer player of the year after scoring 31 goals with 13 assists in 18 games. He started his college playing career at Perimeter College at Georgia State University, and then transferred to Lander University for his junior and senior seasons. Kioki spent his summers competing in the NPSL and USL2 semi-professional leagues. He captured 2 conference titles with the Myrtle Beach Mutiny. After college, Kioki continued his playing career in Europe, playing for Pickering Town FC in England and Benidorm CF in Spain.

Since then, Kioki has been coaching at the youth club level and training players individually.

Jarvis Gunter comes to DME Academy by way of Columbus Mississippi.  Gunter has an extensive basketball playing background that began in high school at Columbus High School. Success was prominent for Gunter.  He was voted top student for his academic achievements at Columbus High School, not to mention the success he garnered on the basketball court.  Gunter's success in academics led him to achieve a BS in Accounting from University of Arkansas Pine Bluff in 2008, as well as his MBA in Sports Management from Lynn University in 2019.

Gunter received numerous collegiate offers both academically and athletically, but ultimately chose to attend the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff on a basketball scholarship. There, Garner helped lead the program to its first SWAC Conference Championship in many years. In 2008, during his time with the Golden Lions, Gunter was drafted by the NBA G-League's, Erie Bayhawks. 

A long career of professional basketball followed and included several stops along the way for Gunter.

• NBA G-League teams Erie Bayhawks and Springfield Armor
• NBA Cavaliers summer league and NBA training camp
• Portuguese Basketball League's Cab Madiera 

Gunter transitioned from player to coach soon after the conclusion of his playing career.  His first coaching job as an assistant coach was with his alma mater, University of Arkansas Pine Bluff.  Gunter spent six years as an assistant coach assisting with skill development, recruiting, scouting, video coordinating, managing equipment, and mentoring student-athletes.   Upon his departure from Arkansas Pine Bluff, he was given an opportunity to coach with the United States Basketball Academy in Guiyang, China.  Gunter remained in China for five months, until the COVID-19 pandemic changed his course. Upon leaving China, he returned home to volunteer with the Columbus High School team as a coach, mentor, and trainer.   Gunter's experience then led him to an invitation with the coaching staff of a talented Mississippi AAU organization 5th Quarter in Columbus, Mississippi. At TNT, Gunter helped coach girls' and boys' teams throughout the summer before his current stop at DME Academy.  Gunter currently serves as the Boy's High School Blue Head Coach, as well as the Housing Director at DME Academy.