Professional athletes could easily walk away from their high schools and never look back.

Many probably do. Shoot, many of us who played high-school athletics, or didn't play at all, do not care about returning to our alma maters.

Then, there are those people such as former Chapel Hill High School football and basketball player Dovonte Edwards, who has not forgotten his hometown and the school that helped launch his athletic and academic career.

On Friday and Saturday, Edwards will sponsor the Dovonte Edwards Summer Sportsfest, a two-day event with a free football clinic and a couple of fundraising activities that will provide money for the athletic department at CHHS.

"It is a great honor to host Dovonte's sports camp this year," Tigers' football coach Issac Mash said. "We're very excited about it. We're looking forward to it being an annual event for us at the high school every year. For our young athletes, they can see what hard work can lead to."

Edwards attended N.C. State, playing football and basketball for a couple of years before settling on football. Basketball was always his love, but as with so many kids in North Carolina that have excellent athletic skills, he learned football often offers a better chance at a professional or collegiate career.

Marsh said that this is not the first time Edwards has returned to help kids at CHHS.

"I think it's a great benefit to have an alumnus such as Dovonte Edwards to come back and give to the community," Marsh said. "It speaks volumes for his commitment to the local high school, as well as his commitment toward young children to succeed academically and athletically.

"Dovonte has made guest appearances at our mini-camp that we hold," Marsh said. "His message has always been solid for the young kids about doing the right thing all the time. That is one positive the campers can take from Dovonte, being positive and doing the right thing every time you're out."

These days Edwards plays for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He and several of his fellow pro football players will be here to sign autographs and participate in a celebrity bowling event on Friday and a celebrity basketball game on Saturday.

Bowling will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Friday at the Mardi Gras Bowling Center at 6118 Farrington Road. Tickets for students are $10. Adult tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Tickets include bowling, food and drinks.

There will also be a silent auction during the evening to raise money.

Saturday morning, there will be a free football camp for the first 150 kids who register. Participants are encouraged to pre-register at www.dovonteedwards.org. On-site registration begins at Chapel Hill High School at 9 a.m. A camp for cheerleaders (first 50 participants) will take place at the same time.

"What I'm hoping the camp will do is help out with the Pop Warner football league and make football stronger this season with our youth program," Marsh said. "This example of Dovonte coming back and giving back to the younger athletes and the young children this weekend will be the gateway that will help us to do that."

Saturday at 7 p.m., there will be a basketball game between NFL players and local participants. Advanced tickets cost $7 for the basketball game. They will be $10 at the door. There will also be VIP tickets for $25 in advance and $30 at the door. VIP ticket holders will receive an 8x10 photo and a T-shirt.

The proceeds from this weekend will help the entire athletic department by allowing the football team to use some of this money to pay for its annual needs, which will leave more cash in the general fund for the other sports.

"We're splitting it between football and the general athletic fund," Marsh said. "There are inventory items we need each year, like footballs, the reconditioning of our helmets and shoulder pads. We'll be able to pay for some of those items (and won't) have to take away from our athletic department. We can benefit from being able to afford a lot of things we can take care of on our own."

And the kids will benefit from seeing a former Chapel Hill athlete set an example of returning to help those who helped him along the way.