Tom Izzo releases statement on death of Adreian Payne

News of Adreian Payne’s sudden passing sent shockwaves across the Michigan State and college basketball communities on Monday. Spartans coach Tom Izzo released a statement about Payne, whom he coached for four years.

Payne played at Michigan State from 2010 to 2014 and became a first-round pick of the Atlanta Hawks. He played in the NBA from 2014 to 2018 before embarking on a professional career in Europe. He passed away Monday morning in a shooting in Florida, officials said, at the age of 31.

It was devastating news, and Izzo reflected on Payne’s life Monday afternoon.

“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.”

Adreian Payne, former Michigan State basketball star, dead at 31

Former Michigan State Spartans basketball star Adreian Payne has died. He was 31.

Jared Sullinger, a former Ohio State star, tweeted the news early on Monday morning.

“Hate the news I received this morning…. Rest Easy to my brother/Teammate @Adreian_Payne,” Sullinger tweeted.

Chris Solari of the Detroit Free Press later confirmed the report of Payne’s death.

“Confirmed the former MSU star big man has died,” Solari tweeted. “He was 31.”

Payne played a big role across four seasons at Michigan State, and he continuously got better throughout his career. He started six games as a freshman, averaging 2.5 points and 2.4 rebounds. He jumped into a starting role as a sophomore, averaging seven points and 4.2 rebounds with 36 starts.

Payne made another leap as a junior, posting a line of 10.5 points and 7.6 rebounds, also blocking 1.3 shots per game. As a senior in the 2013-2014 season, he averaged 16.4 points and 7.3 rebounds, playing 28.1 minutes per game across 31 contests.