Lacey Holsworth, the 8-year-old girl who befriended Michigan State basketball star Adreian Payne, died Tuesday after a three-year battle with cancer.
[tweet https://twitter.com/adorablelacey/statuses/453786264849096704 align=’center’]
Holsworth, who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma during a hospital visit two years ago, met the 6-foot-10 forward shortly after her diagnosis, and the two immediately formed a bond.
Holsworth showed her support for Payne at many Michigan State games in East Lansing, and when he was honored by the Spartans during Senior Night last month, he picked her up and carried her around the court.
Holsworth also was in Payne’s arms last month as he cut down the net to celebrate his team’s Big Ten Conference tournament title in Indianapolis. The avid young fan even traveled to Madison Square Garden in New York to watch Michigan State play UConn in the Elite Eight and to Dallas to watch Payne at the College Slam Dunk Championship.
Payne’s teammates expressed their condolences on Twitter after hearing about the passing of their biggest little fan.
[tweet https://twitter.com/thats_G_/statuses/453793320557219841 align=’center’]
