Michigan State community creates touching memorial to Princess Lacey on campus

Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo and some of his players joined hundreds of students on campus Wednesday to paint a rock and fill it with messages to 8-year-old Lacey Holsworth, who lost her fight with cancer this week.

The beautiful little girl became known as 'Princess Lacey' and developed a bond with MSU senior forward Adreian Payne, who first met her two years ago during one of her hospital stays. She suffered from neuroblastoma, a fetal-nerve cell cancer. They became like brother and sister with Payne and his teammates including her in numerous team activities.

Payne carried her around the court last month during senior day and allowed her to participate in cutting down the nets with the Spartans when they won the Big Ten tournament.

Izzo spoke to a large group of Michigan State students at the rock memorial Wednesday night.

Payne, Izzo and the Spartans included Lacey in so much of what they experienced in March during the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments and Payne's appearance in the college slam dunk contest.

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Kyle Ringo

is the assistant editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at kyle.ringo@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @KyleRingo