"Princess Lacey" Passes At Age 8

The Michigan State Spartans enjoyed plenty of success this season despite dealing with numerous injuries throughout the year. Keith Appling, Branden Dawson, and Adreian Payne all missed an extended streak of times, causing Tom Izzo's squad to appear out of sync at times. When March rolled around, however, Sparty hit its stride and made a run to the Elite 8 before losing to the eventual champions: the Connecticut Huskies. Though a Final Four run was statistically expected (every senior before this year's class made a Final Four run under Tom Izzo), the season was nowhere near a disappointment. And while Michigan State had its struggles this season, there was always a bright spot in the toughest of times.

Payne and Lacey cut down the net together after the B1G championship

Her name was Lacey Holsworth and she was in an ongoing battle with a form of nerve cell cancer called neuroblastoma. Yet along the way she had befriended a familiar face to anyone who watches college basketball: Michigan State's Adreian Payne, the 6'10 senior who will surely hear his name called this June in the NBA Draft. Payne met Lacey while visiting the children's hospital earlier in his career in East Lansing and the friendship began quickly. While it's not uncommon to see big-time athletes visit hospitals or help those in need, Payne and Lacey shared a different kind of bond. Lacey began to attend the Michigan State games due to invitations extended to her by Payne and she became part of the program. The entire team embraced her and she became a huge part of the Spartan's success.

Nobody outside of the Michigan State program could possibly imagine just how much she meant to Payne or the team, but from a spectator's view it was clear to see that she had a major impact. She was an eight year old girl offering inspiration to a roster of 18-22 year old young men. To say that that's touching might be an understatement. And it's because of how much of an influence she had on Payne and his teammates that today is the toughest day this team has had to face this year. Lacey Holsworth took her last breath this morning in her home, a heart-breaking and tear-jerking loss for not only the Michigan State program, but for basketball fans in general.

Payne and Lacey on Senior Night

There are plenty of things that made Lacey Holsworth special and the fact that Adreian Payne helped her along the way is a reason to believe there are still great individuals in sports. This friendship was not a one-time thing, it wasn't something Payne did to improve his image, and it wasn't something that Payne did to feel good about himself. The heart of the Michigan State forward and the determination and fight of the eight year old girl can teach everyone numerous lessons. Together, these two taught us that friendship can be found in the most unlikely times, with the most unlikely people. It didn't take Adreian Payne carrying "Princess" Lacey around the court on Senior Night to realize that these two individuals were sincere towards one another, and while the Spartans were wonderful in including Lacey in their program, it was Payne who played the biggest role. He brought Lacey up the ladder to help him cut down the net after the Spartans won the Big Ten Tournament and he even brought her down to Dallas for the dunk contest he participated in. Before one of his dunks, he had Lacey touch the ball for good luck before throwing down a ridiculous reverse.

It was great to see Lacey smiling on the sidelines when Payne walked over to her before that dunk, and it was easy to see that Payne was sincere. Nothing Payne did for or with Lacey was done for the cameras or to make himself look like a hero. This was bigger than basketball and it was bigger than Payne's senior season. This was a future NBA player and an eight year old cancer patient sharing a bond that some people don't ever experience. It's unbelievably sad to hear the news of Lacey's passing but at the same time it's a celebration of just how big of an impact she made not just on her family, but the college basketball world in just eight short years. It's never easy to stomach someone passing well before we believe they should, but Lacey will forever be remembered in positive light. RIP Lacey Holsworth. Thank you for the lessons you taught us and for inspiring us to never stop fighting. And thank you, Adreian Payne, for teaching us that not every athlete is a thick-headed thug like so many people stereotype them to be. God bless the Holsworth family and the Michigan State team as they mourn the loss of their biggest fan.