Cameron Hollins Leaps Into a Unique Career Path

After graduating from Avon High School as a track-and-field star and drummer in the Avon Marching Black and Gold in 2014, Cameron “Cam Jam” Hollins ran track for Indiana State University.

He decided he wasn’t a huge fan of college, prompting him to begin searching for career options. He was bartending, modeling professionally and looking for his next opportunity.

Hollins said he could have never predicted where he ended up.

After hearing of a special team who entertained at Indiana Pacers home games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, he decided to apply, and like many endeavors in life, it wasn’t without setbacks.

“I tried out for Pacers Power Pack and I was bad my first time, but they let me come to practice,” he said. “I think they saw potential in me but I wasn’t really ready to hit the ground running. I made sure at every practice I was showing improvement, and getting the next thing down as good as possible.”

Pacers Power Pack performs at the end of the third quarter at all home Pacers games. The high-energy dunkers spring off of trampolines in acrobatic moves. Each performance is different and Hollins has now been a member of the team since 2021.

“It’s really fun and I think people look forward to it,” he said. “We might do a front flip with a half turn, and toss the ball to another person. Maybe five or six of us are in a line and the last guy dunks, or we’ll do rapids where each of us take a turn. We’ve even had fans throw passes from their seats.”

It’s fun to watch from the stands, and it might surprise others to learn how much work and effort go into their performances. The team gathers twice per week to practice new moves, and just like any sport, there’s time needed for weightlifting, yoga and more.

“You have to train your body to be conditioned to pull these skills off,” Hollins said. “You have to work to be mentally and physically prepared.”

Hollins has traveled with Power Pack, performing in stadiums across the globe with the Pacers and the U.S. national team.

He also joined specialty team and current champions, MOB, for SlamBall; the professional event brings dunkers from all over the country to compete against each other in Las Vegas.

“With the Pacers it’s more about entertainment and showmanship,” Hollins said. “With SlamBall, it’s on ESPN highlights and focused on skill. I’d love to do it again. I love the challenge. I love finding new things to try and learning new things. It keeps me coming back for more.”

When Hollins saw the joy brought to audiences through this form of entertainment, he wanted to expand the options for himself and others by creating his own dunking company, Leaping Legends.

Why not make dunking a full-time job and bring fellow dunkers along for the ride?

“With Leaping Legends, we don’t have a set number of teammates,” he said. “Depending on where the shows are, I know a couple of guys performing with NBA teams all over the country. I want to give them opportunities to do this and make a living. We want to give back to the community and show that anything is possible if you stay dedicated and focused. There’s nothing you can’t do.”

Besides, how much fun would it be to take their dunking skills on tour and share their love of the sport with the world?

With his own dunking company, Hollins said he’s having fun expanding what can be done with these skills and entertainment options.

You don’t have to have a gymnasium to book a performance either. Hollins has a portable rim and trampolines, which means Leaping Legends can go to any function in any space.

“There’s so much creativity,” he said. “We push the limits. We’re dunking over a car or jumping over the principal in the high school gymnasium to dunk the ball. We want to do things that you couldn’t imagine until you saw it.”

In fact, he takes it as a challenge.

“This grew into something I love and something I never thought I’d be doing,” Hollins said. “Let’s push the limits and find in reality, we often think with a mental block. We can do far more beyond our wildest dreams.”

Hollins said it all started in Avon.

“To look at everything I’ve done, it’s all been a stepping stone to get further in life,” he said. “Track kept up my athleticism, and the drum line with the marching band taught me showmanship and presentation. Everything builds from there. It’s crazy how things come together.”

A quick search on YouTube with the name Cameron Hollins will share something else positive in Hollins’ life. He recently got engaged at a Pacers game to his longtime girlfriend, Jada.

“This is the dream I didn’t know I wanted,” he said. “There are so many opportunities in the dunk world. The NBA sent us to Brazil for 10 days, I did a tour across America to do dunk shows and I’m headed out to Paris for a Pacers versus Spurs game in just a few weeks. I hope to do more, especially in my hometown.”

Learn more about Leaping Legends on Instagram @leaping_legends, or email leapinglegends2@gmail.com.