Some sad news to post this morning in the college basketball world as former Michigan State and NBA center Adreian Payne has passed away at the age of 31.
Spartans beat writer Kyle Austin has reported that Payne died after being involved in a shooting in Orange County, Florida.
In his NBA career, Payne was known for his career playing for the Atlanta Hawks, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Orlando Magic. He last played overseas with the Juventus Utena team in Lithuania. At Michigan State, Adreian was known for his towering presence in the paint for the Spartans men’s basketball team in early 2010s.
However, his most notable moment at MSU was his special friendship with Lacey Holsworth, a then- 8-year-old cancer patient, who was a big fan of Payne and all of Spartan basketball.
Sadly, ‘Princess Lacey’s’ life was also cut short after she passed away from her neuroblastoma in April 2014.
Just a tragic ending for one of the more recent and popular Michigan State basketball players in this past decade. RIP Adreian Payne.
