Tragic news ... police say a top basketball recruit who was committed to play for Missouri State next season has died in an accidental shooting.
19-year-old Ashley "A.J." James -- a 3-star prospect who had offers from Fresno State, Murray State and USF, among others -- was killed on Monday night in Chesapeake, Va., according to cops.
A police spokesperson told WTKR ... officers responded to an apartment just before midnight and found James with a gunshot wound after he had allegedly been grabbing a handgun from another man when it accidentally went off.