The friendship between Adreian Payne and 8-year old Lacey is bigger than basketball

Michigan State Spartans star Adreian Payne and 8-year old Lacey Holsworth were complete strangers prior to their meeting in the hospital two years ago. The two met each other in a hospital where she was being treated for Neuroblastoma, a malignant (cancerous) tumor that develops from nerve tissue. It usually occurs in infants and children.

Usually the cliche of a sports star visiting sick kids ends as soon as they met. But not in Adreian and Lacey’s case because the two have become like brother and sister

Lacey helped Adreian cut down the nets after the Spartans won the Big Ten Tournament.



Lacey accompanied Adreian onto the court for senior night in East Lansing and the player visited Lacey and his family earlier this month for a fundraising party organized for the little princess and her family.

At my Lil sis @adorablelacey party at BWW.. pic.twitter.com/MpFP0DZrZy

— Adreian Payne (@Adreian_Payne) 10 Marzo 2014

As written by Club937, There is no guarantee that Lacey’s story will have a happy ending, as her form of Cancer is very aggressive and keeps coming back.  That being said, I don’t know of any story in sports that is more emotionally uplifting than this one.

The genuine friendship between Adreian and Lacey is bigger than basketball. . .

Bigger than the NCAA tournament . . .

Bigger than Cancer . . .

Thank you Adreian and Lacey for showing us what it really should be all about.