LOOK: Michigan State honor Adreian Payne in special tribute
The rock at Michigan State, which serves as a billboard for campus groups and current events, was painted over following the tragic death of former Spartans star basketball forward Adreian Payne, honoring the life of the former Big Ten Champion.
Payne was shot and killed after a dispute in Florida, according to TMZ. Police said Payne was trying to be a “mediator” between a man and his girlfriend, and the man said he thought Payne “had no business being at his residence this late at night” and saw Payne’s “presence as a threat.” That’s why the man said his actions were justified.
The incident occurred in the early hours Monday morning in Orange County, Florida, according to police. Chris Solari of the Detroit Free Press added more details via the Orange Country Sheriffs office.
The 6-foot-10 Dayton, Ohio native is best remembered by Spartans fans for the impact he had on Lacey Holsworth, an eight-year-old cancer patient. The two met in 2011 when Payne visited a local hospital with the Michigan State basketball team, and the two hit it off.
Payne began referring to Holsworth as his little sister, and she would be by his side when he cut down the nets when the Spartans won the Big Ten Championship during his senior season during the 2013-2014 college basketball season.
On the basketball court, the former Spartan averaged 8.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game in his four-year collegiate career. He shot 52.6% from the field at Michigan State, and was also a 75.5% shooter from the free throw line, and was then selected with the No. 15 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks. He would only manage to stay in the NBA for five seasons, though, with stints in Atlanta, Minnesota and Orlando.
The basketball world collectively mourned the sudden and tragic death of their dear friend, colleague and opponent. None had a tribute as touching as his former head coach Tom Izzo in the hours following the devastating news.
“I’m in shock at the tragic news of Adreian Payne’s death,” Izzo said. “Our prayers are with his family, teammates and loved ones. Adreian was loved by his teammates and coaches, who respected his development as a player and a person. He came to Michigan State with a ton of raw talent and put in the work to reach his goal of becoming an NBA player. Beyond that, he will long be remembered by Spartan fans for his kind heart, as his friendship and genuine bond with Lacey Holsworth touched the nation.
“Today is a difficult and sad day for the Spartan basketball family. Following graduation, Adreian regularly returned to East Lansing. In doing so, he developed and strengthened relationships with players from all eras. I’ve heard from many of those players today, each one experiencing heartbreak, and each one with their own fond memory of Adreian.”