Michigan State Fans Paint Adreian Payne Tribute On Campus' Famous 'The Rock'
Michigan State Univ. Fans Pay Tribute To Adreian Payne ... Paint Campus' 'The Rock'
Michigan State fans are honoring Adreian Payne in a very Spartan way -- painting a tribute to the former hoops star on the famous boulder in the middle of the school's campus.
MSU supporters inked "RIP AP #5" on "The Rock" -- a monument on the university's campus since 1873 -- just two days after Payne was shot and killed following a dispute outside of a Florida home on Monday.
The rock at #MSU has been painted to remember Adreian Payne and the special relationship he had with Lacey @wilxTV pic.twitter.com/dG9VvZ2QXc
— Seth Wells (@SethTVSports) May 11, 2022 @SethTVSports
The fans also painted a message on the rock referencing Payne's touching friendship with 8-year-old cancer patient Lacey Holsworth.
"Adreian + Lacey ❤ together again," the note read.
There were also several bouquets of flowers left near the monument, too.
Payne played at MSU from 2010 to 2014 -- and helped lead the team to an Elite Eight appearance in his senior season.
Spartans head coach Tom Izzo -- along with many others in the basketball community -- mourned Payne's death on Monday, saying in a statement, "Adreian was loved by his teammates and coaches, who respected his development as a player and a person."
Payne was just 31 years old.
