When Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade didn’t respond to Nicole Muxo’s YouTube prom invitation, the Florida high school senior assumed that her plea had failed to catch his attention. Instead, Muxo was treated to an unforgettable night.

In April, Muxo, a senior at Coral Gables Archbishop Carroll High, made an elaborate YouTube video to invite Wade to be her prom date. “My senior prom is coming up, and I have everything set for a perfect night except for one thing: a perfect date,” Muxo said.

Wade, a longtime star for the Miami Heat, has spent the past few weeks embroiled in the 2013 NBA Playoffs. When she failed to hear back from her favorite player, Muxo chalked it up to his busy schedule, enlisting former Archbishop Carroll student Laurent Chaumin to act as Wade’s replacement.

In reality, Wade was simply waiting to see if he’d have the night off before committing to the event. After the Heat quickly dispensed of the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference semifinals, and with the Knicks and Pacers still locked in a heated playoff battle, Wade managed to clear out a night to surprise one of his biggest fans.

“She continued to keep going for it — no matter how many times I said I am going to be busy,” Wade told the Miami Herald. Apparently, Muxo sent him a final Twitter message on Thursday night, which finally convinced the basketball star to make an appearance. "When I got that, I said, 'I won’t be doing nothing tomorrow night and I can go and make this a memorable moment for her.'"

The former NBA Finals MVP made sure to arrive in a fittingly grandiose fashion, too. First, he called Muxo to send his well wishes for her senior prom — only to appear at her side 10 minutes later.

“I was so surprised. I didn’t expect it at all,” Muxo said.

Chaumin, her original prom date, was a good sport about the situation. “At least we both know how to dress,” he told the Herald, after posing with both Muxo and Wade in a series of prom pictures.

After the festivities had ended, Wade took to Twitter, claiming that he “had a blast” at the prom and sending out a message to fans who might have a similar idea in the future. “Never be 2 scared to ask,” he wrote.

RELATED STORIES
Basketball