Hornets Buzz: Making It To The NBA!

HBCU graduate Wesley Robinson (Benedict College, 2013) burned up the highway between Columbia to Charlotte during his last few semesters in college.

Today, the road warrior can look back fondly and proudly on those efforts because they helped bring him to the promised land: a big job with the NBA's Charlotte Hornets.



"If you had told me six years ago I'd be doing all of this, I wouldn't have believed you," Robinson said.

Robinson is the Hornets' social media coordinator. He promotes and publicizes the team and its players using Twitter, Instagram and other platforms, while also getting some face time doing highlight clips.

 Kelechi Benet (pictured in the classroom) brought Robinson to campus on Nov. 4 (via Skype) to talk to communications students about his rigorous and vigorous path to success.

Benet taught previously at Benedict College where his students included Robinson who hails from the Bronx, New York. He also has South Carolina roots, having graduated from Estill High School in Hampton County near Beaufort.

Robinson's LinkedIn site is one students should check out because it indicates the effort given and opportunities created by someone willing to work hard to make his dreams become reality.

During his presentation, Robinson ticked off several places where he interned, volunteered and wrote as a freelancer. That impressive list: Sports Business Daily, ESPN, CNN, Turner Sports, NASCAR, Carolina Panthers, even the Harlem Globetrotters!

His connection with the NBA's Hornets began while he was still at Benedict. A guest speaker from Charlotte told the students they should try to reach out and cover professional sports if that is something they aspired to do.

Robinson didn't have to be told twice. He hooked himself up with press credentials, topped the tank in his 1996 Honda, and began what would be a few dozen trips from Columbia to Charlotte (and back) to cover the Hornets for the Benedict student newspaper. He would also write coverage articles and features on his own blog.

Robinson said how he would share the things he wrote with people connected with the Hornets.
Networking like this, over time, helped him get feedback that has made him a better writer. And it lead to him being recommended for the Hornets internship program, which he was accepted into after graduating college.

"I went to Benedict, a small school," he said. "The other interns went to Alabama, Indiana, Syracuse, Michigan State. My feeling was that I have a dream just as big as you guys."

Robinson gave the students a lot to think about. He advised them to not waste time but to really focus on what they want to achieve.

He posed this question to the young people: "What are you doing today that is going to take you a step forward?"

Not really doing anything or enough? "Then someone like me is going to blow right past you," Robinson said.

With the NBA season underway, Robinson is very busy so his taking some time to talk to our students was most appreciated. He still is a road warrior with his new wife and child living in Atlanta and he is in Charlotte.

He's reached a lofty career goal while still young. But he knows better than to be too settled. "In this industry, you'll never be comfortable," he said. "That keeps me hustling."

Robinson encouraged the students to be assertive and aggressive in pursuing their goals. "Don't be afraid to ask people, to harass people," he said. He left the Skype interview by mentioning one of his sources of inspiration. He recommended that the students read Denzel Washington's book, "A Hand to Guide Me."