Prep School Basketball Recruiting: What Every Athlete and Family Needs to Know
There’s a huge difference between being good and being discovered. If your goal is to play college basketball, a post-grad year at the right prep school can open doors you never imagined.
We touched on this topic when I sat down with Mike Panaggio of DME Academy. Mike has helped players from 46 countries, including the now-NBA Murray twins, take their game—and their lives—to the next level. His story about how a post-grad year helped unlock the Murray brothers’ potential is one every parent, player, and coach should hear.
A DME coach breaks down a play during a high-intensity timeout.
From Undiscovered to NBA: The Murray Twins’ Post-Grad Leap at DME
Cory:
Now, you’ve got a top 100 player in your program now. You had the Murray twins come through who are now in the NBA. How do you find these players, Mike?
Mike Panaggio:
The Murray brothers, you know, oftentimes it’s fluke. Who knows? If you… you’re going to have to read the book, okay, because The Murray Family Machine—being announced first on Cory Heitz’s podcast—is going to become a reality.
They came to us—they didn’t want to come to DME. They were going to go to a Juco. The father said, “Come on, let’s go down, check out DME, check out a few other prep schools.”
They came down, they did a workout with my brother, Dan. Keegan actually, yeah, was a little bit soft. He threw up after the workout. The workout was that strenuous for him. And the father said, “This is what you need.”
So they made the decision to come down.
Why a Post-Grad Year Makes All the Difference
DME post-grad team stands ready to earn college opportunities.
Mike Panaggio:
Those kids had a routine. 500 shots a day. Every day.
Other kids, how do we get our kids? We do showcases all over the world just to show the brand. We were in Qatar this year. We were back and forth to Jordan… we were in Dubai, Barcelona, Switzerland…
But when it comes to post-grad? It’s about finding kids who need that one extra window to train, grow, and believe in themselves.
Unlimited Gym Access and a Culture of Excellence
Mike Panaggio:
What they needed—talk about value proposition—was they needed a place where they could get into the gym 24/7, where they could get up 500 shots a day, where they could believe in themselves.
And the Murray brothers, as well as many other kids, have that opportunity.
Because we’re not… we don’t tightly guard our gym. It’s not like, “You can’t get in,” and it’s not like a local school where talks about insurance and that type of stuff. No, you have access to that gym. We applaud you. Don’t waste time.
We even look at their routine. You need a routine. You can’t just come in and shoot.
Like Steph Curry—he has a great routine. We copy Steph Curry’s routine. All the kids are doing his inside-out type moves. That’s another difference. We are very, very serious about everything that we do.
DME players battle it out in a high-energy game on their home court.
Why “Good” Isn’t Good Enough: DME’s Focus on the Exceptional
Mike Panaggio:
When you think about it, there’s five choices these kids have.
They can be bad—it doesn’t take much effort. They can be average—which is what most kids are. They can even be good. But over time, good turns into invisibility.
What you do notice is exceptional. And that’s our whole focus—can I help this kid reach exceptional status?
That takes into consideration a whole lot of different attributes—not just his jump shot, not just his vertical. As a matter of fact, if that’s what you focus on, you’re going to be very unsuccessful. Because the NBA? It’s just a dream. It’s 0.001%.
The Murray brothers came in as post-grads. And they weren’t on that track yet. What they needed was a place to believe and build. That’s what we do here.
Closing Time: Every Game, Every Minute Matters
DME girls’ basketball team ready for a season of competition and growth.
Post-grad isn’t about a “fifth year”—it’s about the right year. The right place, the right routine, and the right support can change everything. Just ask the Murray twins.
If you or your family are considering a post-grad year, reach out anytime. I’ve seen firsthand how this one decision can unlock potential, college offers, and lifelong confidence.
Let’s find the fit that gets your player where they need to be—on and off the court.
If you’re looking into prep school, reach out to us at PREP Athletics. We’re here to help you explore your potential and make choices that align with your athletic and academic future. We’ve also got a long list of resources to get you started in the right direction, so check out our latest prep basketball updates on YouTube or our podcast to dive deeper.
