COLORADO SPRINGS — Dominique Clifford’s path toward basketball stardom was mapped out well before he stepped foot on The Vanguard School campus three years ago.
As his father, Akai, tells it, Dominique received a basketball on the day he was born, and a first name inspired by Akai’s favorite player — retired NBA star Dominique Wilkins.
His first word? “Ball”
And by the time he reached the ripe old age of 3, he had begun playing ball.
“He had this bouncy little rabbit that we would give him every time he would score,” said Akai, an accomplished player in his own right at Widefield High School.