The Louisiana State community woke up to the heartbreaking news Friday that LSU basketball player Wayde Sims has been killed. The 20-year-old junior was shot during an altercation outside a Subway restaurant near the Southern University campus in Baton Rouge, La.
“We are all devastated,” LSU coach Will Wade said in a statement. “We need your prayers for Wayde, for his family, for all of us. We are heartbroken.”
A 6-foot-6 forward who averaged 5.6 points and 2.9 rebounds in 32 games last season, Sims was Louisiana’s 2014-15 Gatorade Player of the Year. He led Baton Rouge’s University Lab High to back-to-back-to-back state titles from 2014 to 2016. His father, Wayne Sims, also played basketball at LSU (1987-91).
“[Wayde] was just an unbelievable person and was continuing to grow and had just done a great job building a bridge with our team,” Coach Wade said in a press conference. “That’s what makes it so tough for all of us, and for our team as well, is everybody liked him. Anybody he came in contact with, automatically just loved him, loved his personality. He was just a blast to be around at all times.”
LSU teammate Aaron Epps was among many to honor Sims on Twitter:
Lil bro was such a caring individual man I’m hurt. RIP Wayde #Forever44 pic.twitter.com/bENVqdnhYq
— Aaron Epps (@AaronEpps21) September 28, 2018
Sports world sends prayers after shocking death of LSU basketball player Wayde Sims
This is Heartbreaking news! Devastating for his family, friends, team and community. #RIP Wayde 🙏🏽 https://t.co/S7xean77ya
— Avery Johnson (@CoachAvery6) September 28, 2018
https://twitter.com/inkyjohnson/status/1045733377997967361
This is simply heartbreaking. Please pray for his family, his teammates and coaches. https://t.co/cJ8gQ6Ug1U
— Jimmy Dykes (@CoachJimmyDykes) September 28, 2018
All leaders and families go through tough things but I can’t imagine what the Sims family, Will Wade and the @LSUBasketball program is going through right now. We are all saddened by Wayde’s loss. I pray that God gives them the strength and courage to deal with this grief.
— Tom Crean (@TomCrean) September 28, 2018
I sort of don’t have words, but I’m heart sick. To know that of the KINGS I’ve had in my arms had his life snuffed out by senseless gun violence. My prayers are with you @LSUBasketball and @wwadelsu.
— Rachel JOY Rohe 💍 (@RachelBaribeau) September 28, 2018
Tragic. RIP Wayde Sims. https://t.co/RR2Kcwn6cZ
— Jay Bilas (@JayBilas) September 28, 2018
Please join us in praying for the Sims family and the LSU community.
