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CHARLOTTE – Several current and former NFL and NBA players spoke about the importance of education and how it shaped their careers.

The panel discussion was part of Fred Whitfield's Achievements Unlimited Basketball School.

For nearly 30 years, the current Bobcats' president and COO has held the camp to teach the importance of academics and the dangers of drugs through basketball drills and educational lectures.

Pros like the Panthers Jon Beason are eager to lend their time.

"You definitely want to inspire them to do everything, not just become the next football player but just to be successful,” said Beason. “And I think sports is the way to do it because at a young age, you can get put in an adverse situation. A lot of times as a parent, you want to hold on to that seven or eight-year-old and protect them, but you get challenged in sports, you get challenged in life.”

In addition to Beason, those who participated included his teammate Jonathan Stewart as well as NBA greats Alonzo Mourning and Dell Curry.