Houston Baptist University's Sloan on death of basketball player: 'We offer our prayers for Darius’s family and closest friends'

Houston Baptist University (HBU) is mourning the passing of men's basketball player Darius Lee, according to a school-issued press release. 

HBU said Lee died on Sunday from a gunshot wound in his hometown of Harlem, New York City. 

University president Dr. Robert Sloan led the campus community in remembering the 6-foot-6 guard/forward.

“The loss of anyone in the HBU family is a cause for grief, but it’s especially painful when we see the death of a student, particularly when so much promise is cut off in such a violent, senseless way," Sloan said per a tweet from HBU's official Twitter account. "We offer our prayers for Darius’s family and closest friends.”

The release said that Lee was working toward graduating with his bachelor's degree in December.

He was a recipient of the HBU Robbie Robertson Male Student-Athlete of the Year Award, the university said.

According to the release, Lee was the Huskies' leading scorer and rebounder in addition to having been among the nation's leaders in steal per game, distinctions that were good enough to land him on the All-Southland Conference team last season.

Houston ABC affiliate KTRK reported that the 21-year-old Lee was among the more than half-dozen shot in Sunday's alleged incident.

The station reported that he was the lone fatality from the shooting as the eight other victims were treated for less severe injuries.

Police haven't made any arrests nor discovered a motive for the attack, per KTRK.

Huskies head coach Ron Cottrell said his program is "devastated" by the star's death, Houston CBS affiliate KHOU reported.

"Darius was a remarkable young man who loved the Lord, his mom, his family, his teammates, his friends and his entire HBU family," Cottrell said, according to the station.

Cottrell and HBU Athletic Director (AD) Steve Moniaci have requested prayers for everyone affected, per the release.