CAROLINA DEL NORTE. Cameron Bennerman del estado defendido por Chris Ellis de Wake Forest durante el torneo ACC 2006 en Greensboro, Carolina del Norte
noticiasobserver.com
RALEIGH
When an athlete’s playing career ends, they often go into coaching, broadcasting or business. That’s what one N.C. State basketball alumnus is doing.
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Cameron Bennerman played for the Wolfpack from 2003-2006, leading the team in scoring during his final season. He finished with 422 points, averaging 14.1 points per game, earning All-ACC Third Team.
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He recently launched Brand Dream, a basketball-focused lifestyle and clothing enterprise.
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“It’s here to inspire and motivate people to dream and stay true to their process,” Bennerman said.
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Bennerman played professionally after his Wolfpack career, during which he began having conversations about how to succeed in higher levels of basketball. He saw two primary things: young players not knowing the work it takes to succeed and a lack of vision or passion.
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Brand Dream is an all-encompassing entity, Bennerman said. It provides product design, content creation, podcasts, digital marketing, athlete and musician partnerships, and hosts events such as basketball camps.
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“With all the knowledge and skills that I’ve acquired over my career, we pretty much created a vessel where we can excel in providing some nice services and products for people to be inspired by,” Bennerman said. “It’s been very authentic and it’s been very organic.”
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The company recently released its first product – an exclusive T-shirt and signed copy of Bennerman’s book, “The Process.” It plans to host a pop-up event with North Carolina business Social Status early next year at its Greensboro and Raleigh locations.
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Bennerman said the limited-release launch and media work is only the start of what he wants to accomplish. Brand Dream will hopefully grow enough to start a college called Dream State University.
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This isn’t like LeBron James’ I Promise School, which is a public elementary school in Akron, Ohio. Bennerman’s idea is to have a university.
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Bennerman wants the school located on an already-existing campus – like Nike’s in Oregon – where players can receive additional coaching and hands-on learning opportunities with standardized curriculum, similar to vocational training and some internships. He wants players to leave with improved athletic abilities, skills for their resumes and certifications.
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The goal is to help players improve athletic abilities, while giving them skills and certifications for success after sports.
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Much of the lessons and skills Bennerman wants to share with others comes from his time in Raleigh. He remembers being a kid who attended games at Reynolds Coliseum, trying to get a high five.
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Years later, he became the player other kids looked up to. His time with the Pack provided an education, while establishing a foundation and understanding of himself and others. There was a sense of toughness and being an underdog – a need to prove – that stuck with him.
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“My time at NC State was all about the process, growth and just trying to figure out who you are – on and off the court,” Bennerman said.
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Bennerman said his team has more than 10 years of experience and believes it can achieve this feat. Brand Dream has creative projects in progress and is developing partnerships with major organizations, so it can move forward with the broader plan.
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“A lot of this stuff, we’re talking into existence because we’re ready for it,” Bennerman said. “We have documents, we’re legal, we’re copyrighted and all that.”
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Fans can support the efforts by purchasing the T-shirt and book bundle and following social media for updates.
