by Dennis Barker Jr.
Former Lakeway Christian boys’ basketball coach Curtis Staples is relishing the latest chapter of his career.
While remaining in a pertinent role within the game that’s given him so much, he’s since translated his talents from coaching young up-and-comers in the high school ranks to becoming a scout for a championship organization in the NBA, the Detroit Pistons.
“Ever since my college days, I have always had a goal to work in the NBA after my playing career concluded,” Staples said. “I thoroughly enjoyed coaching and mentoring student-athletes, but I never lost sight of my ultimate goal of working in the NBA. The transition into the NBA sector has been smooth and natural for me. Sitting in arenas and evaluating college and professional talent does not feel like work. It feels more like a blessing.”
Staples came to Lakeway Christian following an eight-season stint with the Virginia Episcopal Preparatory School. Over the course of his career at both Lakeway and Virginia Episcopal Prep, Staples amassed a record of 518 wins and 42 losses. In his 16 years, he won three state titles and was also responsible for sending over 120 student-athletes to the NCAA in Division I, II, and III during his coaching career.
Before that, the former Virginia Cavalier enjoyed a successful career as a player. He was an All-Conference selection by the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in 1998. During his career with UVA, Staples set the NCAA career record for three-pointers made, a mark that stood for eight years. After college, Staples played seven years professionally, both in the NBA and abroad.
At Lakeway, he led the Lions to a National Association of Christian Athletes (NACA) championship in the league’s national tournament in 2018-19. In his final season at LCA, the program won its first TSSAA championship after securing the district tournament title in 2025. The Lions had been painstakingly close, advancing to the district finals each of the prior three years.
Coaching was a necessary step for Staples to chase the ultimate opportunity he now has. It was a chapter of his life that shaped his leadership lens and allowed him to develop additional tools an NBA scout would need to evaluate talent, analyze performance, and assess potential and fit within an organization. It gave him an even deeper feel into understanding player development, but also character traits that can be just as important as talent when it comes to a major organization investing in its future.
Staples was first shaped in Roanoke, a city where his foundation was built through family, community, and a commitment to excellence. The son of Teresa Brewer Staples and the late Bruce C. Staples, Curtis developed the discipline and work ethic that would define his path.
He was a leading scorer on Patrick Henry High School’s 1992 Virginia Group AAA state championship team. His impact on the program and the broader Roanoke sports community was later honored with his induction into the school’s Hall of Fame in 2016.
As the game has continually evolved, with more data analytics and metrics to consider when evaluating talent, Staples has kept up with that trend by expanding his skill set beyond coaching.
In his transition away from coaching, Staples has since added to his academic pursuits by going into legal studies at Northwestern California University’s School of Law as a way to help sharpen his critical thinking, evaluation skills, and decision-making under pressure.
Basketball has had such an overwhelming presence in Staples’ life. Throughout his journey from player to coach and mentor, and now to scouting for a prestigious NBA franchise, he’s shown, through his adaptability and lifelong growth, what is possible when preparation meets opportunity.
His ties to Roanoke remain a meaningful part of his story. As the proud father of Curtis and Chance, alongside his wife, Alani Price Staples, who also shares roots in the area, he continues to draw on that connection, which reflects the values of discipline, purpose, and perseverance that have guided his path from the very beginning.
Through the game, Staples found a way to ultimately do what he always wanted to do. His drive was never just about basketball, but building something that lasts.
