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. “After he did that, he would get the rebounds and help the other kids score. It was neat to watch that.”

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As an infant, Dominique was a fixture at his father’s rec league games.

Once he began playing competitively himself, the two bonded over their shared passion. They spent hours working on rigorous drills, with Akai passing down lessons of the game.

“We’d have long talks in the gym,” Dominique said. “He would always tell me that if you’re not in the gym, someone else is. He taught me about versatility, using both hands and being good to your teammates. He always made sure I worked hard.”

All that work is paying off.

As the 2019-20 boys basketball season begins, the Coursers’ senior is one of the state’s best. A 6-foot-5 guard touted for his athleticism and court vision, Dominique found himself on the national radar as a three-star prospect by Rivals and 247sports.com.

Needing a guard, CU coach Tad Boyle came calling. Clifford was a perfect fit.

“We have seven criteria that we look for in players when we recruit them, and the top three are non-negotiable: The number one thing is character. The second thing is love of the game. The third is work ethic,” Boyle said. “Dominique checks all three of those.

“He’s a guard that we think can help us win a Pac-12 Championship.”

Before that happens, Clifford has another championship he’s thinking about. Last season, the Coursers posted a school-best 24-2 record but finished as the runner-up in Class 3A. Vanguard, which has six seniors with playing experience, entered this season ranked No. 2 in CHSAA’s 3A preseason rankings.

Known simply as “Nique” to family and teammates, like his namesake from the Atlanta Hawks, he can hurt opponents in a variety of ways. As a junior, Nique excelled at both ends of the court, ranking second on the team in points (18.9) and leading the team in rebounds (11.3), assists (4.7), steals (2.2) and blocks (1.9).

As the team’s leader, Vanguard’s success relies heavily on Clifford’s playmaking abilities — a burden coach Joe Wetters is more than happy to put on his star.

“He sees everything on the court. He’s 6-foot-5, but he’s really a point guard. He grew up being a point guard, so he has all those skills of just keeping the teammates involved,” Wetters said. “The college coaches call him a triple-double wing player. He’s able to rebound, assist and score from anywhere on the court.”

In addition to his parents, Dominique said his grandmother Rose was another huge influence in his life. Rose worked for years as a truck driver and taught him the value of hard work beyond the basketball court.

“He’s so humble and is willing to give credit to anyone but himself,” Wetters said. “He’s that cliché of the first one in and the last one out of the gym. It’s hard to find in a 17-year-old kid.”

Basketball is more than just a game for Dominique — it’s a birthright.

“I found what I really love,” he said, “so I stuck with it.”