Kempsville High School in Virginia Beach has a proud basketball tradition. During the 1980's, All-American J.R. Reid took the program to unprecedented heights before going on to star at the University of North Carolina and play for six NBA teams in a pro career that spanned over a decade. In the 1990's, Brian Bersticker helped the Chiefs capture a Beach District Tournament title before Reid's same path to UNC in Chapel Hill.

When the century turned to the 2000's, the Chiefs tabbed a state title winning Head Coach from the famed DMV basketball hotbed, Taft Hickman, to help restore the pride and winning ways. Though they didn't capture a Beach District or regional title during his reign, they became relevant again with a trio of towering big men in Denzel Bowles (Texas A&M and James Madison University), DeVaughn Washington (Ohio) and Aaron Brackett (UNC Greensboro) that went on to the Division I ranks.

Following the 2018-19 campaign, Principal Melissa George and then Kempsville Athletic Director Tim Wolf had the task of finding a new Head Coach. They turned to a person with a storied background - both playing and coaching - in Darren Sanderlin. Part of exclusive company to capture a state title as both a Head Coach and player at his alma mater of Booker T. Washington, Sanderlin was drawn to the job for a host of reasons.

That's where their next marquee performer comes in by the name of Dominic Stanford, a 6-foot-3 shooting guard who fits the bill of a rarity these days: four-year varsity starter.

“There were a few reasons I took the job at Kempsville and Dominic was one of them," Sanderlin acknowledged. "His character and demeanor are solid. He’s a good, humble kid. There are a lot of players that are too cocky or it’s about ‘me.’ Very seldom these days do you find a ball-player that’s both good and humble… but Dom is. I can get in him and he just responds with a nod and his play."

A year ago as a junior, Stanford had one of his finest moments when he scored 23 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the field, including 4-for-6 behind the arc, in a 49-47 regional playoff victory over Cox. It marked the school's first region playoff win since 2007, highlighting a season in which Stanford was chosen 1st Team All-Region 5A and All-Beach District.