ST. LOUIS — Missouri State basketball honored the life of 2020 recruit, A.J. James, with special warmups before its game on Friday night at the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
The Bears entered the floor before their quarterfinal game wearing T-Shirts with a silhouette of James. Around the shirt read "Once a Bear Always a Bear."
The back of the shirt had James' number, 10, with wings surrounding it.
James, 19, verbally committed to Missouri State basketball on New Year's Day. He was killed in an accidental shooting in Chesapeake, Virginia, on Monday evening. Chesapeake police spokesman Leo Kosinski said James and an adult were handling a handgun when it went off, ultimately killing the Bears' basketball recruit.