“We are going to surprise a bunch of people in the way we come out in the league,” junior forward Wayde Sims said on Wednesday, beaming about the expectations and hopes he had for his team. “We are just going to have a fun and exciting season this year.”
That was just two days before he was tragically shot and killed near Southern University on Friday morning.
A press conference with athletic director Joe Alleva and head coach Will Wade was called on Friday morning, and with other LSU coaches and administration lining the walls, it was clear more than ever that the Tiger family is banding together to mourn the loss of one of its brightest stars.
 “It’s been amazing just in the short time how everyone talks about the LSU family and that sort of thing but you can see that when things are tough and when things are hard,” Wade said.
“I’ve been doing this for over 40 years and this may be the saddest day that I’ve ever experienced in my career,” Alleva said.
It’s not clear what instigated the argument that led to the shooting.  Baton Rouge Police are still investigating. However both Alleva and coach wade stressed this must be a learning experience for all.
 “This is your worst nightmare as a coach,” Wade said. “This is what you worry about at all times. There’s problems everywhere. You just wanna educate your guys as best as possible to stay away from those situations.”
“This is a terrible experience for everyone but, at the end of the day, we need to make it a learning experience also,” Alleva said. “Our athletes are out there, and they need to be careful everywhere you go. During this grieving process it’ll permeate the whole campus and not just our athletic teams.”
The team had workouts scheduled for 6:30 a.m. on Friday morning. Instead, Coach Wade had to break the news of Sims’ death. There were counselors on hand to help the players grieve. Sims’ former teammates continue to share tributes on social media.
“I hear you loud and clear bro,” sophomore guard Tremont Waters wrote on his Instagram story with a picture of him and Sims.
“Why you bro?” former Tiger Brandon Sampson wrote on an Instagram post regarding Sims. “Blood wouldn’t make us no closer.”
“You live on through me and everyone else who loved you lil bro,” former Tiger Aaron Epps said in an Instagram post.
No details for a funeral service or university tribute have been released.