Photo byBailey TorresonUnsplash

Hidden between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean lies the Tar Heel State, North Carolina, and it's downright bonkers about basketball! Here, the kids don't just play basketball, they breathe it! They dribble and shoot hoops under the carolina blue sky, as if each shot could reach the moon. Enter our hero, a cool imaginary character named Bouncing Benny. Benny is a basketball with a mind of his own and a heart full of spunk. The kids love Benny, he's like their bouncy best bud. Benny isn't your ordinary basketball though, oh no! He has a wicked sense of humor and the ability to speak. He's been known to shout "Swish!" when a kid makes a perfect shot, and "Whoopsie daisy!" when the ball slips away. From the bustling city courts of Charlotte to the humble backyard hoops of Asheville, Benny and the kids play morning till night, their laughter echoing throughout the state. They celebrate every shot made, console each other for every miss, and are always ready for a rematch. The spirit of teamwork is as strong as the scent of hickory smoked barbecue in the air. The kids of North Carolina are not just teammates; they're friends, learning life's greatest lessons on the basketball court. They understand that winning isn't everything, but trying your best is. Through their love of basketball, the kids of North Carolina and Bouncing Benny have created a world full of fun, friendship and the simple joy of a game well played. And to quote Benny, "That's what hoops are all about!"