Devin Hester, Taj Gibson Camps Coming to New Lenox

Chicago sports stars are putting on football and basketball camps in New Lenox later this month, and there's still time to register. 

Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson is hosting the basketball camps while Chicago Bears returnman Devin Hester puts on the football camp June 29-30 in New Lenox. 

The event is hosted by ProCamps, which brought Hester and Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade to New Lenox last year. But Wade canceled this year because of other commitments. 

Read below for camp registration info. 

Dwyane Wade Cancels

Dwyane Wade is picking Florida over Chicago—again. 

The Miami Heat star and Richards High School product won't be returning to New Lenox in 2012, where he's put on a basketball camp for the last five years. Instead, Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson will run the show. 

Wade was slated to again run a ProCamps event June 29-30 in New Lenox, but he had to cancel because of scheduling conflicts with the NBA and the 2012 Olympics.

"Dwyane is obviously a little busy, on his way to a championship, we hope," said Mayor Tim Baldermann, a personal friend of Wade's, on May 15.

The Heat might fall short of the NBA Finals this year, but it could end as late as June 26. Then Wade will go straight into practicing with Team USA before the 2012 Olympics begin in late July. 

However, he is scheduled to appear at a Fort Lauderdale, FL, camp June 28-29, so he opted for that annual (and shorter) trip over New Lenox.

Baldermann and Wade became friends after the mayor worked private security for the NBA star, and for a few years before last Wade put on a 3-on-3 tournament. In 2011, ProCamps took over and expanded the event to include a football camp and a music camp put on by Grammy winner Jim Peterik.

Missing out on Wade this year? Don't worry. "He'll be back next year," Baldermann said.

In Wade's place is Gibson, the young forward of the Chicago Bulls who has become a fan favorite for his monstrous blocks and dunks, such as this one over Wade in last year's playoffs. 

Gibson stopped by Wade's camp last year, and in 2012 he'll be the main event. Devin Hester of the Chicago Bears is still returning to run the football camps. 

Registration Information

The camps will be held June 29-30 at . Children may participate in both camps. The athletes won't just be there to take photos; they will be on site the entire camp to directactivities, provide instruction and give daily talks highlighting the finer points of the game.

Devin Hester Football Camp: Open to boys and girls ages 7-14. Cost is $149. Time is 9 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Register online. . 

Taj Gibson Basketball Camp: Open to boys and girls ages 7-18. Cost is $149. Time is 1:15 p.m. to 5 p.m. Register online. . 

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