Corey Brewer understands the expectations that come with being an NBA lottery pick.

Brewer was taken seventh overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2007 NBA Draft. The former Gator standout, in Gainesville to host his third annual Back 2 Back youth camp, thinks that recent UF lottery pick Bradley Beal can handle those expectations.

Beal was taken third overall by the Washington Wizards in the 2012 NBA Draft after helping lead Florida to the Elite Eight this past season.

“It’s going to be tough for him, but he’s in a good situation,” Brewer said. “They are going to give him the ball right away. He has a chance to be special. It’s going to be up to him, how hard he works.”

Brewer averaged 5.8 points and 3.7 rebounds in his rookie season in Minnesota. He started in just 35 of 79 games.

“I didn’t really have as much pressure because it wasn’t about me,” Brewer said. “They had just traded KG (Kevin Garnett). So it was all about rebuilding. We were just young. It was a weird situation for me going with a bunch of young guys, nobody knew who was going to be the man. It was tough, but I learned a lot.”

Close to 100 kids ages 7-17 attended Brewer’s camp at The Rock School in Gainesville. Some came from as far as New York to support a camp that raises money for Brewer’s “Fight Diabetes Fund,” which benefits Shands at UF.

Diabetes hit home for Brewer when his father, Ellis, died from complications due to diabetes last February. Brewer’s mother, Glenda, is a Type 2 diabetic.

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