Former Michigan State basketball star Adreian Payne was killed in a shooting early Monday morning in Florida at the age of 31.
Former Ohio State star and fellow Ohio native Jared Sullinger was the first to share the news of Payne's death on Twitter, which was later confirmed by Michigan State.
In a statement released by MSU, Tom Izzo said he was "in shock at the tragic news."
"Today is a difficult and sad day for the Spartan basketball family," said Izzo. "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."
It was reported by MLive.com that Payne was shot at 1:37 Monday morning in Orlando and later pronounced dead at a local hospital. The shooter was apprehended at the scene, per MLive, and has been arrested on a charge of first-degree murder.
Payne played at Michigan State from 2010-11 to 2013-14, a three-year starter who helped the Spartans win two Big Ten titles. He would go on to be drafted 15th overall by the Atlanta Hawks in 2014.
His NBA career lasted four seasons, including stops with the Timberwolves and Magic, after which he began playing overseas. Payne spent last season with Juventus Utena of the Lithuanian Basketball League.