http://www.newsobserver.com/105/story/1236325.html

Cameron Bennerman might be best known for his feats on the basketball court.

But he's looking to become a familiar face on the runways as well.

Bennerman, it turns out, loves fashion. And he's a budding artist.

Off the court, the former N.C. State University guard has been busy creating a new line of clothing, a line that marries his hobby of drawing with his passion for clothes and accessories.

The seed was planted a few years ago, when he was playing basketball in Europe after leaving N.C. State. He discovered Italy's version of New York Fashion Week in Milan. He went to fashion shows in Spain.

He was hooked but also inspired.

"They're risk-takers over there," he says. "A lot of things that we're afraid to do as a culture as Americans, the Italians and the Spaniards aren't afraid to step out and do different things with their clothes."

This summer, while living in his hometown of Greensboro, Bennerman took some of his art work, including a robotic version of his beloved dog Pluto, and put them on hats, T-shirts and sweatshirts, pulling them together under the umbrella of his new company, Likuid Nation.

The look of the drawings, he says, is how he sees life. "I wanted it to be perfectly imperfect," he says.

Now Bennerman, who splits time between Raleigh and Greensboro while waiting to see where he'll play basketball next, is ready to put them up for sale online and create a catalog of his collection of shirts. He's also looking to get the pieces on shelves in select stores.

T-shirt prices range from $25 to $30. Sweatshirts start at $50.

"Basketball may always be my first true love," he says. "But you can't play basketball all of your life."

He said while other ball players invest in real estate or spend their income on clubbing, he wanted to start a business. "For me, it turned out to be this fashion thing."

Look for clothes at http://www.likuidnation.com once Bennerman gets the site finished or find him at cb@likuidnation.com.



[Edited on September 29, 2008 at 3:19 PM. Reason : sdf]

9/29/2008 3:18:10 PM

haha, I really thought this was going to be about some kind of freak car accident

9/29/2008 3:21:03 PM

uhhhhh

9/29/2008 3:21:28 PM

i was expecting him to have jumped off a moving airplane.

this is slightly less awesome.

9/29/2008 3:34:55 PM

Quote :

"I HATE COUG"

9/29/2008 3:35:08 PM

she lies and says she's in love with him

CAN'T FIND A BENNERMAN

9/29/2008 3:37:33 PM

gl to one of my all time favorite underrated players

9/29/2008 4:29:19 PM

Quote :

"she lies and says she's in love with him CAN'T FIND A BENNERMAN"

9/29/2008 4:45:38 PM

i saw something about this in greensboro...but the graphics look like they were done by a preschooler.

9/29/2008 4:53:54 PM

He showed off that he was a pretty good dresser when he was injured that one time and had to sit on the bench.

9/29/2008 5:12:45 PM

I was hoping that he was turning into a pilot.

Then I opened this thread :/

9/29/2008 5:51:47 PM

Quote :

"she lies and says she's in love with him CAN'T FIND A BENNERMAN"

9/29/2008 6:36:58 PM

i think it's awesome

i'll probably grab a hat or a polo

9/29/2008 7:01:25 PM

its

Quote :

"We Dream in Colors, We Dream in Red Can't Find a Bennerman"

way better

9/29/2008 7:12:09 PM

this would be a lot funnier if he was actually designing dresses and shit

9/29/2008 9:23:49 PM

He's not a businessman. he's a BUSINESS, MAN.

9/29/2008 9:51:04 PM

bennerman was a legit, non asshole kind of a guy (as far as I can tell). I always thought that he was much better of a player than he was givin credit for, and I am just glad that he is getting his name out there.

9/29/2008 11:07:12 PM

^he never had the basketball skills. Couldn't dribble, pass, or make his teammates better. World class athleticism, though. I never got the sense that he was intensely focused on being a great basketball player, which is something you did see in great players (Hodge is a prime example)>

[Edited on September 29, 2008 at 11:25 PM. Reason : ,]

9/29/2008 11:23:45 PM