Then-senior center Adreian Payne goes up for a point while defended by then-Ohio State center Amir Williams on Jan. 7, 2014, at Breslin Center. The Spartans defeated the Buckeyes in overtime, 72-68. Danyelle Morrow/The State News
Former Michigan State basketball star Adreian Payne has died at 31, according to his former teammate Jared Sullinger and confirmed by Chris Solari of the Detroit Free Press.
Payne played four seasons at MSU, breaking out as a junior where he was named to the Second Team All-Big Ten. He followed it up with another selection to the Second Team All-Big Ten, averaging 16.4 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.
Payne was selected 15th overall by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2014 NBA Draft and spent time with the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Orlando Magic and the NBA G-League before heading overseas in 2018. There, he carved out a nice career in Greece, China, France, and others, winning a Greek Basketball League Championship in 2018 and the Greek Basketball Cup in 2019. Payne most recently played with the Juventus Utena of the Lithuanian Basketball League before parting ways in February.
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